Racecards
15:00 Sedgefield
John Smith's Extra Smooth Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- Form 424621
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
in touch, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression
- Form PP8P-PF
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Mark Campion
- Jockey D Laverty
chased leaders, lost place 4th, soon ridden, lost touch, tailed off from 3 out
- Form P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer Miss L C Siddall
- Jockey T Siddall
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Emmasflora
10- Form 453732
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer C T Pogson
- Jockey A Pogson
led to after 1st, tracked leader, led again 4 out, clear next, stayed on well, comfortably
- Form P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey A Dempsey
held up, outpaced from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Sharp Exit (IRE)
913- Form 9/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
behind, lost touch 6th, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
Star Zero
35- Form 4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
keen early, led after 1st, headed 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders to halfway, soon behind, tailed off from 3 out
Calfraz
17- Form 471332
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer M D Hammond
- Jockey D C Costello
mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden next, one pace, no impression when mistake last
Deep Rising
42- Form PP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer S P Griffiths
- Jockey A Ross
mid-division, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Mrs E Slack
- Jockey B P Harding
behind, reminders 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Verdict
Water Taxi, Emmasflora and Calfraz look the three to concentrate on here with the vote going to the last named. The selection was a fair second behind Pataxaran under similar conditions last time out. This looks easier and he need only run up to that mark to win this. Water Taxi rates the main danger as he won well last time out when beating Artic Echo but he has yet to prove he acts on ground this soft and under his penalty he looks worth taking on. Emmasflora is another worthy of respect on his latest second behind Brankley Boy but she has had plenty of chances without taking one and again she looks vulnerable. Of the remainder Star Zero is from a yard in form and is sure to have improved for his debut fourth so should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to Calfraz who sets a fair standard.
Formwatch
Water Taxi 5-2 (11-4) In touch, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs beating Arctic Echo (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Comte de Chambord 80-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, ridden 14th, weakened next, behind when fell 4 out in race won by Squires Lane (11-1) at Southwell 3m beg chs (4) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Conemara Breeze 100-1 (11-13) Towards rear, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Cash And New (11-6) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Emmasflora 33-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden after 9th, kept on last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Brankley Boy (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Mr Buddy (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up behind, mistake 1st, lost place from 5th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Orcadian (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Sharp Exit (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, never a factor, 9th of 14, 40l behind Thyne For Intersky (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nhf (H) gf in Sept '03.
Star Zero 20-1 (11-2) Raced wide, held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 18l behind According To Pete (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Tartan Classic (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Held up, always behind, tailed off from 2 out, 9th of 10, well behind Major Catch (10-13) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Calfraz 11-4 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Patxaran (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Deep Rising 200-1 (10-3) Mid-division, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Harmony Brig (11-10) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (5) sft in Feb, 18 ran.
Miss Nosey Danzero filly out of hurdle winner Miss Nosey Oats, half-sister to winning jumper Wild Oats.