Racecards
17:45 Stratford
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good (Soft in places chase course)
- Surface: Turf
- Form 28/6P3P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey V Conte
held up, jumped right fifth, never dangerous
- Form 2/111-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Lady Herries
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
ridden 3 out, always behind
- Form 1/10641-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 125
never travelling well, not always fluent, always towards rear
- Form F62241-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey D R Dennis
chased leaders, led 6, hit 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 312-2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up in touch, hit 6, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
- Form 191356-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 221223-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 120
held up in touch, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened last
- Form 561-1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, led and not fluent last, driven out
- Form 3721/20-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer John Allen
- Jockey M Nicolls
held up towards rear, ridden after 5th, never dangerous
- Form 0241-87
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey E Dehdashti
held up in touch, ridden and lost place after 5th, no real danger after
- Form 6/12522-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
took keen hold, soon in mid-division, headway approaching 6th, one pace from 2 out
- Form 00244-4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey A C Coyle
fell, chased leaders, weakening when hit 3 out, no chance when fell last
- Form 50101-3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, headway on outside approaching 6, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
- Form F/1P118-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 110
led, hit and headed 6, led again 2 out, headed last, not quicken
- Form 6/PP-021
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey L Stephens
chased leaders until weakened after 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Paul Nicholls is taken to land the opening race on Stratford's big night of the year through Darrias, who is preferred to Afrad and Zonergem. The selection, a winner on the flat in Germany, looked a horse to keep on the right side of when winning novice hurdles at Taunton and Hereford in his last two starts and looks to have been allotted a fair mark on his debut in a handicap. Len Lungo's Full Irish resumed winning ways back over fences last time and has to be respected on his return to hurdling, while Alrafid is a consistent performer and should again be thereabouts. The Philip Hobbs-trained Xellance has claims on his best but is none too consistent and of more interest may be Nicky Henderson's Afrad, who remains unexposed and ran up to his best when second in the big four-year-old hurdle at Punchestown last time. Genuine Article is another worthy of a mention along with the Lady Herries-trained Zonergem, who has a progressive profile over hurdles but has his quirks. Darrias looks an uncomplicated ride though and he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Zonergem 4-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to lead flat, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Oct beating Candarli (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Full Irish (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Held up, mistake 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, headway to lead 2 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs (B) gd in Apr beating Bleu Superbe (10-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
Norma Hill 7-1 (11-3) Prominent and keen, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr beating Welsh Main (11-4) by 5l, 14 ran.
Afrad (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Settled 2nd, not fluent early, led after 2 out, ridden and headed entering straight, soon outpaced, kept on from last, 2nd of 25, 7l behind Strides of Fire (10-7) at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl sft in Apr.
Xellance (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Took keen hold in touch, effort going well before 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 17, 10l behind Yes Sir (11-9) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Apr.
Darrias (GER) 7-4 (11-3) Held up in touch, steady headway from 5th, led after 2 out, soon clear, won at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf beating Argent Ou Or (10-10) by 13l, 6 ran.
Alrafid (IRE) 6-5fav (11-8) Held up in touch, closed to track leaders 6th, chased winner under pressure after 3 out, no impression from last, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Valley Ride (11-8) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Mar.
Genuine Article (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-7) Led to 3rd, led again 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened quickly, 8th of 10, 24l behind Guru (10-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Oct.