Racecards
15:20 Newton Abbot
Happy 96th Birthday, Les Bickham Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 216y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £11,500 added
- Winner: £7,280
- 2nd: £2,150
- 3rd: £1,075
- 4th: £538

- Form 221356
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leading pair, hit 11th, 2nd 4 out, led travelling well 2 out, soon clear, very easily

- Form 224222
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
sometimes jumped right, led 1st until after next, chased leader until 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon beaten

- Form 1F231P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey P J Brennan
led until 1st, led again after next, reminders before 10th, went right 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd

- Form 9P2-244
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Bryony Frost
always last, not fluent 9th, outpaced next, mistake last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
DORMELLO MO made the useful Fox Norton work hard for victory at Cheltenham last week and is the one to beat here if that hasn't taken too much out of him. He's been quite highly tried since winning over track and trip last September. Aso finished behind Fox Norton in the Arkle and was then well beaten at Aintree but can't be ignored and Fourth Act is also eased in grade after being pulled up in a Listed race at The Festival. Union Saint is unlikely to be good enough against the other three off level weights.
Formwatch
Aso (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 6th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Arzal (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Dormello Mo (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Tracked winner throughout, not fluent 4 out, driven approaching last, held final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Fox Norton (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Apr.
Fourth Act (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Union Saint (FR) 50-1 (10-12) Held up, dropped to rear 4th, ridden and plugged on from after 3 out, went 4th last, one pace run-in, 4th of 6, 8 3/4l behind Henryville (11-3) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) gd in Mar.