Racecards
14:30 Towcester
James King (plant) Ltd. Novices' Chase (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 7P-331F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up in rear, jumped slowly 3rd, in touch 6th, mistake 9th, reminder after 11th, not fluent next, outpaced 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, took 3rd near finish
Nikola (FR)
34- Form 222321
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
chased winner, mistake 10th, not fluent 12th, relegated to 3rd 2 out, soon edged right, weakened last
- Form 33-143U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4 out, driven approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, soon edged left, jumped right last, no impression
- Form 002215
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened after 3 out
- Form 814F8P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey Dave Crosse
towards rear, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent, reminder 7th, fell heavily 8th
Romeo (FR)
43- Form PPP/UPP
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer B R Summers
- Jockey D Laverty
tubed, in rear, mistakes, last by 5th, losing touch 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 253222
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Jack Doyle
made all, clear approaching 2 out, ridden out
- Form 1/211-P0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Gask
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, struggling 9th, lost touch approaching next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 6UP2U3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
in touch, lost place after 9th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, plugged on approaching last
Byways Boy
28- Form 67-P23P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P A Blockley
- Jockey J Diment
Nonrunner
Verdict
Nikola finally got the head in front last time out but In Accord ran well for a long way at Cheltenham last time and he gets the nod to return to winning ways at the main expense of Pass It On. The selection is the highest rated horse in this field and was only found out by the longer trip when he took a tumble as a tired horse in the four-mile race at Cheltenham. Now back over a more suitable trip, this consistent sort can add to his rather meagre wins tally. Polinamix seemed to have no real excuses last time, whilst Stolen Moments keeps hitting the frame but is struggling at present to score over fences, although the drop in trip should suit. Pass It On also didn't complete at Cheltenham but he has some ability, and the first time eye-shields may bring about some improvement. An open race, with In Accord fancied to oblige.
Formwatch
In Accord 33-1 (11-11) In touch, mistakes 14th and 17th, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out, behind when fell at the last in race won by Old Benny (11-7) at Cheltenham 4m nov amt chs (2) gs in Mar, 20 ran.
Nikola (FR) 9-4fav (11-0) Close up, led 2nd to 5th, led again 8th, ridden 3 out, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Mar beating Down's Folly (11-0) by a nk, 7 ran.
Pass It On (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) In rear when badly hampered and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Old Benny (11-7) at Cheltenham 4m nov amt chs (2) gs in Mar, 20 ran.
Polinamix (FR) 5-2fav (11-9) In touch, hard driven after 13th, mistake 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 25l behind Beesneez (10-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Mickey Pearce (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Always in rear and pulled up 3 out in race won by Ballyfitz (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Romeo (FR) 80-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place and behind from 8th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Seize (10-11) at Southwell 3m mdn hdl (5) gf in Feb, 14 ran.
Stolen Moments (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Led, jumped right 4th, hit 12th, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Dr Hart (11-0) at Lingfield 3m beg chs (4) gd in Mar.
The Empty Tin (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 10th, soon weakened, 12th of 14, well behind Le Briar Soul (10-11) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
The Speaker (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Led to 7th, chased leader until approaching 12th, struggling 13th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Trigger The Light (11-6) at Warwick 3m nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
Byways Boy 12-1 (11-9) Soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Reckless Venture (9-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 9 ran.