Racecards
13:45 Stratford
Jo Huxtable Birthday Celebration 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 7y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £7,500 added
- Winner: £4,084
- 2nd: £1,882
- 3rd: £940
- 4th: £471
- Form 07
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss J S Davis
- Jockey Miss H C Tucker
chased leaders, lost place before 6th, behind 8th, pulled up after
- Form 02-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Lorcan Williams
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
Harde Fashion
285- Form 234-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer D Bourne
- Jockey Conor Ring
with leader, led 2nd, headed and not fluent 5th, not fluent next, led after 2 out, joined last, headed flat, stayed on, just held
- Form 64-15
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Georgie Howell
- Jockey Tabitha Worsley
mistakes in rear, well behind 8th
- Form 19-P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey David Bass
led until 2nd, led 5th, not fluent 6th, headed after 2 out, 3rd and no extra last
- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, pushed along after 8th, went 2nd final bend, soon edged left, challenged last, led flat, stayed on
- Form 326264
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
chased leaders on inside, shaken up 3 out, lost place next, well held after, went 4th before last
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Bridget Andrews
ran green towards rear, well behind from 7th
Verdict
Don Alvaro may represent a top yard but he was beaten 25 lengths when odds-on for a bumper at Chepstow in April. HARDE FASHION had three runs in bumpers for Kim Bailey. He showed ability on each occasion and this looks a weak maiden. Ballintubber Boy has more scope than Don't Stop Now and Turnaway would not need to be a world-beater to make an impact on debut.
Formwatch
Beccaccino 100-1 (11-0) Led, pushed along home turn, soon ridden, headed inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 7th of 13, 9l behind Scots Poet (11-0) at Stratford 2m (5) gd in Aug.
Don Alvaro 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 9f out, headed over 5f out, ridden 4f out, dropped to 3rd 3f out, rallied inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 5, 25l behind Atjima (10-7) at Chepstow 2m (5) gd in Apr.
Harde Fashion 5-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4f out until ridden over 2f out, weakened into 4th inside final furlong, eased, 4th of 7, 18l behind Bill Baxter (11-5) at Fakenham 2m (5) sft in Jan.
Pollards Fen (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, prominent, not fluent 1st, slow next, lost 2nd 4 out, mistake and weakened next, last of 5, dist behind The Wrekin (11-7) at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in May.
The Wise Traveller (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Raced wide close up, joined leaders 9th, weakened 2 out, pulled up last, at Hexham 2m 7f mdn (4) sft in May.
Ballintubber Boy (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Disputed lead 1f, prominent, ridden over 2 out, no extra from over 1f out, 5th of 8, 11l behind Storm Dennis (11-2) at Warwick 2m (5) sft in May.
Don't Stop Now 14-1 (10-9) Raced handy, ridden 3 out and losing position, plugged on, 4th of 8, 16 1/2l behind Father John (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gd in Sep.
Turnaway (IRE) Getaway gelding out of Robins Turn.