Racecards
13:20 Sandown Park
Newcourt Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 33150-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, ridden after 14th, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 18130/8
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leader 2nd, not fluent next, led 4th, not fluent 11th (water), hit 12th, headed next, led approaching 3 out, strongly pressed next, held on, all out
- Form 63U3-51
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
led until 4th, tracked winner, not fluent 10th, led 13th, headed approaching 3 out, one pace from next
- Form 7204-70
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
tracked leader until 2nd, soon last, lost touch 7th, behind next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after
- Form 5464-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey D Elsworth
tracked leaders, not fluent, reminder after 3rd, mistake 5th, reminder after 10th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance when bad mistake 2 out, stayed challenging, just held towards finish
In depth
Verdict
Semi Colon was just beaten in a competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on her reappearance and has obvious claims if taking to the larger obstacles. But we were impressed with LEXICON LAD's two-length defeat of Kempton winner Loch Ba at Warwick and he should be capable of going on to better things. Henrietta Knight's five-year-old is 7lb better off here but that may not be enough to turn the tables on the progressive winner. Trafalgar Road finished a long way in front of Silver Accord over hurdles here after a break and should strip fitter today. He's also worth noting for future reference.
Formwatch
Semi Colon (FR) 5-1fav (10-8) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd when mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on to close flat, just failed, 2nd of 23, hd behind Decoy (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Trafalgar Road (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Took keen hold, held up in rear, good headway on inside to chase leaders before 2 out, mistake 2 out, weakened from last, 8th of 18, 7l behind Enfant De Lune (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Lexicon Lad (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 12th, made rest, came clear from 2 out, easily, won at Warwick 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Loch Ba (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Silver Accord (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 16th of 18, 38l behind Enfant De Lune (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Loch Ba (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Held up and behind, mistakes 3rd and 11th, headway on inside approaching 3 out, 3rd from 2 out, went 2nd last, kept on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Lexicon Lad (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.