Racecards
14:20 Stratford
City Sign & Graphics Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 70y
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 0/2-P112
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
took keen hold in mid-division, jumped right at times, closed 5th, ridden and close 3rd when awkward last, no impression on winner flat
Blue Merlin
17- Form 8-458
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
with leader until before 3rd, pushed along after 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 1-655
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Harrison Beswick
held up in rear, headway 2 out, hanging left off last bend, led when mistake last, clear flat, stayed on
Panko (IRE)
32- Form /-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey Kielan Woods
tracked leaders, went 2nd when slow jump 3rd, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no impression on winner flat
- Form R/465-44
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Harris
- Jockey James Best
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 2 out, weakened before last
- Form 75
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P W Middleton
- Jockey J E Moore
led until 3 out, not much room before last, no extra flat
- Form PP-337
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
chased leaders, slow and went left 2nd, lost place next, well beaten from 2 out
Verdict
COMPETITION is penalised for completing a double at Uttoxeter in July but just missed out at Fontwell last time and looks to have little to fear from today’s very modest opposition. Stop Talking may prove best of them with improvement expected after last month’s hurdling debut at Carlisle while Noah And The Ark finished closer at Bangor last time though was still beaten a long way. Panko has won five times on the Flat and may well figure in this company if taking to hurdling.
Formwatch
Competition 6-5fav (12-0) Keen, held up in touch, smooth headway tracking leaders after 3 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, every chance when hit last, pressed winner briefly run-in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind West Drive (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Aug.
Blue Merlin 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, no danger after, 8th of 11, dist behind Carntop (11-5) at Worcester 2m (4) gd in Aug.
Noah And The Ark (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, never involved, 5th of 9, 18 1/4l behind Passing Call (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) gd in Aug.
Panko (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders in 5th, headway on inside 2f out, soon hung left and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th and held when eased close home, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Sea Youmzain (9-1) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Texan Nomad 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 3 out, 4th before 2 out, no impression on leaders, 4th of 11, 19l behind Carntop (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Jul.
Tripartite (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) With leader, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Pickett's Charge (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (5) pol in Aug.
Stop Talking (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Held up in touch on outside, headway 3 out, weakened between last 2, last of 7, 13 1/2l behind Clemento (11-3) at Cartmel 2m 1f (4) gs in Aug.
Muilean Na Madog (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Keen on inside towards rear, under pressure when brought down 3 out, at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gs in Aug.