Racecards
18:35 Newton Abbot
Independent Racecourses Ltd, IRL Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,899
- 2nd: £1,145
- 3rd: £572
- 4th: £286
- Form P23-FP8
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Mrs A L M King
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 856433
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
in rear, headway before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on and always held
- Form 5443P4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey Miss A Dalton
held up in touch, weakened after 3 out
- Form 45-3532
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Paul O'Brien
tracked leader, reminders before 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 126552
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Bowen
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, kept on well
- Form 8-26776
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey L Heard
held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 5-34079
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey James Davies
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, one pace
- Form 935305
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up towards rear, weakened from 4 out
In depth
Verdict
The Road Ahead won over 2m4f at Aintree on good going last year and just failed to catch Wizards bridge over 3m at Taunton last month having met trouble in-running. This trip could prove ideal, though she has been raised 5lb. VIVANT POEME (NAP) may have her measure as he was arguably finishing best of all when third in a blanket finish on his handicap debut at Ludlow in February - a 2lb rise looks fair. Sonny The One and Rior have place claims but Somerset Lias has disappointed this term.
Formwatch
Real Milan (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Led, hard driven when headed after 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 40l behind Mawaqeet (10-8) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
Vivant Poeme (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway before 3 out, ridden run-in, kept on towards finish, just held for 2nd place, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Seaviper (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f (3) sft in Feb.
Vinnie My Boy (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Led, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 38l behind Yasir (11-2) at Towcester 2m clm hdl (5) sft in Nov.
Sonny The One 11-4 (11-9) Chased leader until approaching 3 out, chased winner from 3 out until ridden approaching 2 out, 2nd again and hunt left between last two, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Tea Time Fred (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
The Road Ahead 11-4 (10-5) Ran in snatches, pushed along in last pair after 1st, headway approaching 7th, 3rd after 3 out, driven into 2nd and pressed winner run-in, soon every chance, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Wizards Bridge (11-4) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Somerset Lias (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 7th, ridden and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 23l behind Jimmy The Jetplane (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Mister Snowball (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Led until 3 out, weakened from next, 9th of 14, 26l behind Signed Request (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs.
Rior (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up and behind, headway 3 out, chased leaders before next, ridden and went modest 3rd before the last, weakened and lost two places final 100 yards, 5th of 13, 13l behind Rally (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.