Racecards
13:50 Towcester
Happy 40th Birthday Clare Fogarty Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 61
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on,
A One (IRE)
34- Form PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer H J Manners
- Jockey J A Jenkins
led and soon well clear, headed 4th, weakened soon after 5th
- Form PP-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey L Charnock
mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
Count Boris
34- Form 3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J A Geake
- Jockey B Hitchcott
in touch and keen, chased winner from 4th, every chance 3 out, ridden when mistake 2 out, weakened last
- Form 1-80
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey T Siddall
in touch, ridden and weakened 5th
- Form 222P5-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Antony Evans
tracked leader, led 4th, joined 3 out, ridden and keeping on well when hit last
- Form 0-0P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
mid-division, lost touch 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
Regal Term (IRE)
1099- Form 0/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey Mr J Stevenson
in rear, some progress when mistake 3 out and rider lost iron, weakened approaching last
- Form 312-239
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, driven 3 out, one pace
Trebello
17- Form 6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J R Boyle
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up rear, headway 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened
- Form 7236-68
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, not fluent last, kept on but not reach winner
- Form F
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
keen in mid-division, some progress approaching 5th, weakened next and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 6
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
mid-division, ridden and some progress 3 out, soon weakened
Roseville (IRE)
224- Form 0800-P4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
mid-division, headway to join leaders 4th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
Robeson
86- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer G Haine
- Jockey T J Phelan
towards rear, some headway 3 out, ridden and one pace
- Form 35
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
in touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out
In depth
Verdict
The vote here goes to Shaka's Pearl ahead of River Ripples and Count Boris. Shaka's Pearl won a similar event over course and distance on Boxing Day and has to come into the reckoning again today. Much as River Ripples was behind him on that occasion, he looked as though he had better to come, so he cannot be ruled out. Ballybawn House has a few lengths to find on the bare form of that contest. A 73-rated Flat winner in 2004, A One has shown little in two hurdling starts, while Count Boris looked a lot better over hurdles than he did on the Flat when third to Biscar Two at Chepstow last time, and a repeat of that type of effort would bring him right into it. Montecorvino would hold a chance on his bumper form here but his latest hurdling effort, in a first-time visor, needs to be left behind, although his stable is in better form now. Finally, Robeson showed enough on the Flat to be considered in a fairly run-of-the-mill affair, and Proprioception has also shown enough in two runs over hurdles to suggest a small race is within her grasp. Overall, though, we will stick with Shaka's Pearl.
Formwatch
Shaka's Pearl 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to lead 2 out, headed briefly flat, kept on, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec beating Major Miller (10-12) by a nk, 15 ran.
Count Boris 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, soon ridden along, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance last, one pace flat, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Biscar Two (11-2) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Fill The Bunker (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Always behind, 15th of 18, 30l behind Fier Normand (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) hvy in Dec.
Montecorvino (GER) 7-1 (10-6) Prominent to 4th, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 5th of 15, 15l behind Underwriter (10-13) at Hereford 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gd in Apr.
River Ripples (IRE) 11-2 (10-5) Held up rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden and slightly hampered, not recover, 9th of 15, 14l behind Shaka's Pearl (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Trebello 50-1 (10-12) Badly hampered 4th, always towards rear, 6th of 16, well behind Glasker Mill (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Ballybawn House 14-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway 5th, badly hampered and rider lost iron 2 out, not recover, 8th of 15, 12l behind Shaka's Pearl (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (D) gs in Dec.
Molly's Spirit (IRE) 5-4fav (10-7) Mostly tracked leader, under pressure over 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 25l behind It's My Party (10-4) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (H) gd in May.