Racecards
13:50 Uttoxeter
Ensor Group Maiden Hurdle (For The Staffordshire Regiment Challenge Cup) (Div 1) (Class 5)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £3,400 added
- Winner: £2,209
- 2nd: £649
- 3rd: £324
- 4th: £162
Arcas (IRE)
99- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A E Jones
- Jockey T J O'Brien
always towards rear, tailed off
- Form 111/2-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey W T Kennedy
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out, led narrowly next, 3 lengths advantage when left well clear next, unchallenged after (no time taken)
Curzon Line
212- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division, chased leaders after 4 out, left moderate 2nd when hampered 2 out, no chance with winner
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey James Davies
mid-division, mistake 3rd, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
Fly By Knight
190- Form 66-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T D Walford
- Jockey D A Jacob
always behind
- Form 82333-F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division, weakened 3 out
Milord (GER)
207- Form 6634-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
led, headed 3 out, 3 lengths down and one pace in clear 2nd when fell next
- Form U39
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer S A Harris
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, beaten when hampered next
- Form 235
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer S Durack
- Jockey C O'Farrell
behind, struggling 4 out, plugged on from 3 out, went moderate 4th flat, never nearer
- Form 37-2
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T Symonds
- Jockey Felix de Giles
mid-division on outside, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 312289/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T R Gretton
- Jockey David England
behind, struggling after 4 out, never dangerous
Vinstar (FR)
160- Form 1122-8
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Henry Brooke
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, never on terms, weakened from next
Vujiyama (FR)
152- Form 1-3
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, left moderate 3rd when hampered 2 out, never on terms
Astrogold
25- Form P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey C Bolger
tracked winner to 4 out, driven before next, no impression in 4th when hampered 2 out, soon weakened
Verdict
Curzon Line won twice on the Polytrack for Godolphin last year before trying his luck on Tapeta at Meydan and on the dirt at Jebel Ali. He's an interesting recruit for John Ferguson and treading a well-trodden path but MILORD has to be the selection. A winner on the Flat in Germany, he was fourth in the Fred Winter at The Festival in March and should have few problems picking up an ordinary maiden hurdle on that form. Ballyalton has already won a point-to-point and two bumpers and was second on his hurdling debut at Southwell in November last year. He could also be worth following this season while Vinstar and Vujiyama should have more to offer.
Formwatch
Arcas (IRE) (9-4) 8th of 14, 4l behind Sky King (8-10) at Aix Les Bains(FR) 1m 1f hcp sft in Jun (flat).
Ballyalton (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Took ken hold, held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 3 out, challenged on outside and every chance 2 out, soon outpaced, rallied approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, not pace to reach winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Imperial Leader (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Curzon Line 11-2 (9-1) 7th of 9, 6l behind Encipher (9-4) at Jebel Ali(UAE) 1m hcp in Mar (flat).
Filatore (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Never better than mid-division, 10th of 13, 9l behind Eshtyaaq (8-11) at Bath 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Sep (flat).
Fly By Knight 22-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 6f out, well beaten over 4f out, 6th of 10, 29l behind Salto Chisco (11-4) at Haydock 2m NH flat (5) gs in Mar.
Mattie's Passion (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Ld aftr 3rd, 2l adv from 1/2way until b mstk & fell 9th, in a race won by Premier Portrait (12-0) at Ballybunion 3m ire ptp sft in May, 17 ran.
Milord (GER) 16-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, went 4th towards finish, no impression on leaders, 4th of 24, 13l behind Flaxen Flare (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo) (1) gs in Mar.
Razzle Dazzle 'em 125-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th or 6th, well beaten after next, 9th of 11, well behind Drop Out Joe (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep.
Snapchat (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Tracked leader until ridden over 3f out, edged right and beaten over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 34l behind Cole Harden (11-2) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in Aug.
Straits Of Messina (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Nurse Ratched (9-12) at Exeter 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in May.
Swing State 8-1 (10-13) Chased leader, not fluent 2nd, soon lost 2nd weakened before 4th, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Street Entertainer (10-2) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr '11.
Vinstar (FR) 5-2 (10-9) Held up in touch, mistake 3 out, beaten next, no extra last, 8th of 12, 29l behind Ivan Boru (11-0) at Kelso 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Vujiyama (FR) (10-3) 3rd of 8, shd behind Vive La France (9-10) at Vichy(FR) 1m 5f 3yo nhf gs in May.
Astrogold 66-1 (10-6) Took keen hold in rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th or 5th, ran wide when weakening on bend before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Toughness Danon (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gf in Sep, 11 ran.
Almowj 200-1 (10-7) Always behind, struggling from 5th, fell last, in a race won by Banyan Tree (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (5) gd in Dec '11, 15 ran.