Racecards
13:45 Taunton
Enter The Racecard Competition Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £4,111
- 2nd: £1,198
- 3rd: £599
- Form 19
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Danny Cook
towards rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on same pace and no impression next
- Form 5286-13
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
chased leaders, pushed along to chase leader 2 out, ridden to lead last, bumped soon after, kept on well flat
Empty Scabbard
317- Form 0-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey D A Jacob
alwyas towards rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off
Jomade (IRE)
13- Form 90
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
mid-division, struggling under pressure and beaten 3 out
- Form 6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey James Davies
chased leaders, 2nd 3 out, led well before 2 out, ridden and headed last, hung left and bumped winner soon after, one pace and held
- Form 7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
took keen hold, promiment until before 5th, soon lost place, pulled up and dismounted after last, lame
Old Way (IRE)
483- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
- Form 01-P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
led, ridden and headed well before 2 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
- Form 2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
close up, tracked leaders going well before 2 out, where not fluent and soon found no extra
- Form 21-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
took keen hold, soon steadied to mid-division, no impression 3 out
- Form 70
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Giles Hawkins
not fluent 3rd, always behind, tailed off
Draco Boy
458- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
took keen hold in rear, well beaten when mistake 3 out, tailed off
- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Hadden Frost
always in rear, tailed off 5th, pulled up before 2 out
Verdict
There is a bit of a question mark over SECRET WORLD'S ability to stay the trip over hurdles but he did finish ahead of Huntingdon winner Dona on his debut under NH Rules at Newbury and re-opposes on identical terms here. This sharper track should be to his advantage and he has the edge in fitness over Thunderstorm, unraced since winning a bumper at Huntingdon more than a year ago. Decoy was well beaten on his UK debut at Newbury 12 days ago but should strip fitter here but another French import, Old Way, will probably need the outing and experience of jumping hurdles for the first time in public.
Formwatch
Decoy (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Raced in 4th, 5th and under pressure after 4 out, poor 9th as field came into view final 110 yards, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Rock On Ruby (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Dona 2-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 4out, chased leading duo 3 out, soon ridden one pace and well held next, clear 3rd best, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Act Of Kalanisi (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Empty Scabbard 66-1 (11-2) Led, headed over 4f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 44l behind Mic's Delight (11-2) at Kempton 2m NH flat (5) sft in Feb.
Jomade (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Raced in rear, pushed along after 4 out, soon beaten, 10th of 16, 18l behind Pilgreen (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Ladies Dancing 66-1 (10-12) Held up rear of mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, 6th when not fluent 2 out, no impression, 6th of 18, 20l behind Dare Me (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Light Dragoon 20-1 (10-12) Took keen hold towards rear, stayed on steadily from after 3 out but never a threat, 7th of 16, 17l behind High Benefit (10-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Old Way (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Loch Etive (9-2) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 2f stk gs in Sep '09 (flat).
Persian Present (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 14, 40l behind The Reformer (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec.
Reverend Green (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Prominent and keen, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Praxiteles (10-12) at Aintree 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May, 8 ran.
Secret World (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Keen enough early, held up in 5th, went 3rd before 4th, chased leader 3 out, challenged 2 out, narrow lead before last, driven and stayed on until no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Act Of Kalanisi (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Thunderstorm (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway 3f out, challenged over 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec '09 beating Stratigic Gale (11-1) by shd, 17 ran.
Turf Legends (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Behind, struggling 3rd, soon lost touch, last of 14, well behind The Reformer (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Dec.
Draco Boy 100-1 (9-3) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, last of 12, 24l behind Sahara Kingdom (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn stks (4) pol in Oct '09 (flat).
William Womble 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 7f out, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 10, well behind It's A Gimme (10-12) at Exeter 1m 5f n h flat 3yo (5) gs in Dec.