Racecards
18:00 Newton Abbot
At The Races Sky 415 Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 5 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 344-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey J McGrath
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, hung left and chased winner next, effort when mistake last, kept on one pace
- Form 1/53P3-3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
made all, not fluent at times, ridden 2 out, stayed on
- Form 96757-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mark Gillard
- Jockey Tom Cannon
pressed winner until ridden 3 out, weakened next
- Form 2533-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Mrs K M Sanderson
- Jockey T J O'Brien
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 8-U
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
always in rear, reminders 6th, soon behind, finished in own time
Verdict
This looks like a Henderson - Nicholls battle with the former narrowly selected to prevail courtesy of TOWERING. The Catcher In The Rye gelding created a good impression when coming home strongly in a decent Fontwell novice hurdle and should boast room for further progression, especially over this longer trip. The concession of 6lb to More Buck'S doesn't look straightforward and the Nicholls gelding is an obvious threat but he does give the impression he has his own ideas about the game sometimes and is once again fitted with headgear. He does stay the trip though and should push the selection hard. Pauls Conn is consistent and receives weight from the aforementioned pair but still needs to improve on previous efforts to contend.
Formwatch
Towering (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden before last, kept to lead towards finish, held on well, won at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd beating Romulus Du Donjon (10-9) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
More Buck's (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, headway into 3rd travelling well 4 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, no impression, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Weather Babe (11-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Ofcoursewecan (USA) 40-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost place 4th, outpaced 3 out, unable to get back on terms, 5th of 6, 9l behind Until Forever (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Pauls Conn (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) In touch in rear, ridden 4 out, headway 2 out, no impression after, 4th of 7, 10l behind Richardofdoccombe (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) sft.
Hill Forts Gypse (IRE) 50-1 (10-1) Jumped left and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Until Forever (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 6 ran.