Racecards
15:10 Towcester
totepool Wishing Racegoers A Merry Christmas Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 179y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
- Form BF-765P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 97
chased leaders, lost place and reminders 6th, struggling when blundered 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 5PP321
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer C Fryer
- Jockey Harry Skelton
in touch on outer, went 2nd 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no impression with winner
- Form 3232-65
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
behind, some headway into mid-division 8th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 5437-33
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer T Symonds
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
tracked leaders, outaced before 4 out, beaten next, plugged on to take modest 3rd towards finish
- Form 533-443
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey L Heard
pressed leader, led 5 out, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well
- Form UP-0816
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Ian Popham
led, blundered 7th, headed 5 out, outpaced next, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 623-465
- Age 12
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Mrs R Gasson
- Jockey Killian Moore
in touch on inside, lost place and towards rear after 4th, no danger after
- Form P-P54P2
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer D L Williams
- Jockey James Nixon
behind, still last 4 out, headway under pressure after 4 out, chased clear pair before next, kept on same pace, never on terms, lost modest 3rd towards finish
- Form 4-53550
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey C M Walsh
chased leaders, struggling 8th, 6th and beaten when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next
Verdict
Monday's Plumpton second Petit Ecuyer would have been beaten a long way had the clear leader not fallen at the last. Carhue Princess has got nowhere near in two runs this season but has dropped to a fair mark. Ballyegan has been looking one-paced but is another now a decent mark and is probably more reliable than other course winners Monty's Revenge and Jolly Boys Outing. RIDDLESTOWN scored over hurdles at Southwell at the start of the month and has been dropped 3lb since his latest second over the larger obstacles – he is probably worth sticking with.
Formwatch
Barra Rotha (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Mid-division, close up 8th, lost place 13th, behind 5 out, pulled up before next, at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Riddlestown (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) With leader, led 2nd, headed after 4th, led again after 3 out, driven clear last, stayed on, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Money Maid (11-10) by 4l, 12 ran.
Tinelyra (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) In touch on inside, headway 9th, chased leaders 4 out, went right and weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 30l behind Derryogue (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Carhue Princess (IRE) 3-1 (10-1) Tracked leader until 11th, outpaced 3 out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, 37l behind Emerald Rose (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Ballyegan (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 5th, tracked leading pair 4th, left 2nd 11th, led 13th until 3 out, chased leader until after 3 out, 3rd and held when dived at 2 out, weakened, 3rd of 7, 19 1/2l behind Bus Named Desire (11-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
Monty's Revenge (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Led until mistake and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, dist behind Derryogue (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Jolly Boys Outing (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, weakened before 10th, 5th of 9, 31 1/2l behind Monty's Revenge (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Petit Ecuyer (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway into 4th approaching 9th, no impression 4 out, left modest 2nd at the last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Black Narcissus (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Dougalstar (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, not fluent and ridden 9th, weakened next, 10th of 14, dist behind Mr Mafia (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gf in Jul.