Racecards
15:00 Newton Abbot
Bryan And Ilva Westcott Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 122y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,549
- 2nd: £1,336
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
- Form 4/313-11
- Age 6
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
jumped slightly right, led, ridden and joined 2 out, soon edged right, headed before last, held towards finish
- Form P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, lost touch 6th, ran errant on bend soon after, tailed off
Templeross (IRE)
212- Form F/2212-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leader, driven to challenge 2 out, led before last, stayed on well
Verdict
RAINY CITY won two novices' events in a canter in early summer, both on quick ground, but he'd earlier won on softer going at Exeter and has attained a rating of 134. Sam Twiston-Davies has been on board for all three victories but he now rides the hurdling newcomer Templeross for his father. An easy winner of a heavy ground bumper at Uttoxeter, he gets plenty of weight from the selection but will do well to keep tabs, especially as he hasn't run since February. Captain Bonsai was a 50/1 chance when pulling up here ten days ago and would be a shock winner.
Formwatch
Rainy City (IRE) 4-11fav (11-12) Made all, quickened clear before 2 out, unchallenged, eased towards finish, very easily, won at Perth 2m 4f (4) gd in Jun beating John Monash (11-6) by 14l, 4 ran.
Captain Bonsai 50-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped slowly and big, lost touch 7th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
Templeross (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Led 1f, remained prominent, led again over 3f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Bolving (11-2) at Kempton 2m (5) gs in Feb.