Racecards
17:10 Stratford
Birmingham Mail 'national Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Form 9425-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in 4th, improved 5th, went 2nd before next, led approaching 2 out, clear when went right last, comfortably
- Form 3/4P1P-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Miss L Blackford
- Jockey J Kington
chased leader until after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, left poor 3rd last
- Form 5-14
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
prominent, led after 5th, headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey Dave Crosse
in rear, lost touch after 4th, tailed off
- Form 565-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
held up in rear, raced keenly, left behind after 5th
That Man Fox
321- Form F27/752-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Lee Edwards
led until after 5th, weakened approaching next
Turbo Shandy
19- Form F050-P6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, not fluent 2 out, 8l 3rd and beaten when fell last
Verdict
A tricky finale in which VACARIO, Quell The Storm and Cootehill are three that interest us more than others. We've opted for Charlie Mann's runner who will be partnered with Noel Fehily who has a decent strike rate of late. His gelding is generally a superb performer and has only finished outside the front three on one occasion in eight career starts. He was the winner over this trip at Worcester just two starts ago and followed up with a decent effort, finishing runner up at the same venue. In a race of this quality the fairly consistent performer should take the honours. Paul Nicholls' Quell The Storm is a bit of an inconsistent sort but looked a capable sort when putting in a decent effort at Aintree last time out, after winning at Newton Abbot in her previous outing. She should have trained on over the four weeks he¿s been away from the track and a place among the minors looks imminent. Cootehill is another in decent form recently. The appointment of Pat Brennan, who has ridden the gelding to some of his best finishes lately, is significant and another finish amongst the principles looks likely. The market should guide us as to the chances of the remainder but in a race of this calibre it would be foolish not to side with Vacario.
Formwatch
Cootehill (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Held up, headway before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Turf War (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Moon Bear 40-1 (10-6) Led, soon clear, went right when ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, 25l behind Maria Antonia (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Quell The Storm (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, raced keenly, led 7th, headed after 8th, weakened 2 out, not fluent last, 4th of 9, 26l behind Gonebeyondrecall (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Band Of Brothers Band On The Run gelding out of Just Hannah.
Riverboat Gambler (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, headway on inside 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 5th of 12, 16l behind Shut The Bar (11-4) at Fontwell 1m 6f NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
That Man Fox 10-3 (10-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Proper (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug.
Turbo Shandy 8-1 (10-4) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 11, 10l behind Maria Antonia (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Vacario (GER) 7-4 (11-5) In touch, ridden to chase winner 3 out, every chance from last, no extra, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Factotum (11-5) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Blue Tweed 14-1 (10-8) Always towards rear, 13th of 16, 46l behind Passato (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.