Racecards
14:30 Perth
European Breeders' Fund 'Future Champions' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Perth Hunt Balnakeilly Cup) (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £7,798
- 2nd: £2,290
- 3rd: £1,145
- 4th: £572
- Form 321251
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leader, led 9th, went clear on bit before last, very easily
- Form 0-61341
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey B P Harding
prominent, not fluent 5th, ridden approaching 9th, well beaten 2 out
- Form 14411F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
led, jumped left 1st, mistake and headed 9th, soon ridden, still upsides winner 2 out, no impression before last, well held flat
- Form 223511
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
in touch in mid-division, headway after 9th, ridden 3 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered 2 out, no impression after
- Form 1F32P0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden and effort after 9th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, soon well beaten, tailed off
- Form 222114
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Harry Skelton
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden 3 out, no impression next
- Form P6P6F4
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey M J McAlister
tracked leaders, not fluent, ridden and lost place after 7th, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4P-3455
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
in rear, losing touch 4th, caught back up again after 7th, struggling again from next, tailed off 9th
Verdict
Having been prominent throughout, Ambion Wood stayed on strongly to land a Grade 3 novices' handicap at Sandown last month. He'd earlier got to within half-a-length of the smart Cotton Mill in a Grade 2 at Warwick and a repeat of either of those two runs here would make him very hard to beat, though it's a worry that he didn't appear to get home over 3m at Haydock in February. Golden Call has won a couple of handicaps but it remains to be seen if he can bounce back from a heavy fall at Aintree so we'll take a chance that TALKONTHESTREET can improve again on recent victories at Exeter and Ludlow. This is clearly his trip and he still has plenty of scope. Dark Glacier and Miss Milborne are fairly consistent while Tour Des Champs has his sights lowered and would be a threat to all if back on song.
Formwatch
Ambion Wood (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) With leaders, led narrowly before 2 out, travelled well on bit when pressed last, shaken up and edged right flat, kept on well, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m 4f NH Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) gs in Mar beating Carrigmorna King (11-2) by 5l, 18 ran.
Dark Glacier (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) With leader, led before 4th, headed 4th, led again after 6th, made rest, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hdl (3) gs in Feb beating Rival D'estruval (11-8) by 2l, 9 ran.
Golden Call (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Led after 1st, fell 4th, in a race won by Lovcen (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd, 19 ran.
Talkonthestreet (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Always handy, led before 3 out, jumped left thereafter, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Grove Pride (11-7) by 11l, 8 ran.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 150-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, some headway when bumped just after 2 out, no further progress and soon weakened, 10th of 20, 28l behind Brindisi Breeze (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Miss Milborne 15-2 (11-3) Prominent, led when not fluent 4th, headed next, not fluent 6th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, edged right flat, 4th of 14, 5l behind Tante Sissi (10-9) at Newbury 2m 5f mares nov hcp hdl Listed (1) gd in Mar.
Attycran (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Keen early, with leader, led narrowly after 3rd, jumped right next, not fluent and headed narrowly 3 out, every chance next, roon ridden and lost place, 4th and no impression approaching last, 4th of 7, 20l behind Crowning Jewel (11-1) at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Teerie Express 5-1 (11-5) Bumped 1st, chased leader, led 12th, chased leader, headed before 3 out, weakened and eased before last, 5th of 8, 12l behind Along Came Rosie (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.