Racecards
16:40 Towcester
Gg.com Hunters' Chase (Class 6)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £2,500 added
- Form 22/11-11
- Age 12
- Weight 12-2
held up in rear, went 4th approaching 5th, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1611-1F
- Age 7
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer N Kent
- Jockey Mr S F Magee
chased leading pair, led after 3 out, strongly pressed and going best next, ridden and edged left flat, stayed on
- Form 15-20R2
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Mr A J Berry
held up in rear, headway 7th, went 2nd 4 out, challenged winner after 3 out, upsides 2 out, soon ridden, mistake last, not able to recover
Holy Joe (FR)
322- Form 133R-PP
- Age 13
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Mrs C Coward
- Jockey Miss J Coward
chased leader until 4 out, relegated to 5th 3 out, stayed on one pace to go 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair
- Form UP42P2
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer F Hutsby
- Jockey Mr H Kinchin
led, clear 3rd until approaching 6th, headed after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened 2 out
- Form 14P5-63
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer N Kent
- Jockey Henry Brooke
held up in 4th, dropped to last and ridden 5th, soon behind and jumping left, pulled up after 3 out
- Form 7/P7-3P4
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer P S Davies
- Jockey Miss Isabel Tompsett
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 8th, no impression approaching 2 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Rules performances and Point-to-Point efforts are always difficult to evaluate but GOOD COMPANY is the selection with Oscar Royal and Euro Bleu as the dangers. Jonjo O'Neill seems to have introduced quite a few of the JP McManus inmates into the sphere of hunter chasing and this is one of the batch. The drop to two miles looks a wise move having struggled over further last time out and he has previously scored on the surface. Oscar Royal was better known over 2m4f when trained under rules. He is with a fair trainer under this code and is likely to front run. Euro Bleu won his most recent point at Kingston Blount. He would have something to find on his previous efforts under rules. Farmer Frank was in the process of running a solid race at Leicester before coming to grief. He had been prolific in a couple of moderate points previously. Holy Joe seems to have lost his way whilst the remainder don't look good enough. Good Company seems to have been found a good opportunity to test the water at this level.
Formwatch
Euro Bleu (FR) 10-11 (12-5) Led 10; rdn out, won at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Northall Lad (12-5) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Farmer Frank 18-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 7th, 6th when fell 12th, in a race won by Marblehead (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Good Company (IRE) 3-1 (12-4) Held up in rear, smooth headway after 4 out, chased winner approaching 2nd last, stayed on well flat, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Jurado Express (11-13) at Kempton 2m 4f hts chs (4) gd in Mar.
Holy Joe (FR) 20-1 (12-0) Lost plce 9; wl bhnd when pu 16, in a race won by Grenfell (11-12) at Tabley 3m ptp gd in May, 6 ran.
Oscar Royal (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Led, joined 7th, headed next, ridden after 3 out, soon hanging right, beaten approaching last, eased flat, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Ashkazar (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Paolo Soprani (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) Led 14 til hdd last; fdd tame, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Teeton Dazzler (12-0) at Welbeck 3m ptp gs in Mar.
Some Timbering (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway to go in touch from 5th, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 7, well behind Whizzaar (12-3) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gs in Mar.