Racecards
13:10 Warwick
New Year's Eve Party Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £3,500 added
- Form 07-5P
- Age 4
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
held up and behind, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, hit last, stayed on flat, no chance with winner
- Form 24/2-90
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A J Lidderdale
- Jockey Miss Zoe Lilly
held up and behind, raced keenly, jumped left on several occasions, mistake 2nd, stayed on from after 3 out, never nearer
- Form 074606
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer John Allen
- Jockey Mr W Telfer
led, hit 2nd, headed next, weakened after 4th
- Form 1PPPP2/
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer S J Gilmore
- Jockey A Thornton
chased leaders to 5th
- Form F963-0
- Age 4
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
with leader, led 3rd to 5th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, clear last, ran on well, eased near finish
- Form 2-88F3P
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer S Curran
- Jockey Matthew Batchelor
mid-division, mistake 4th, no headway from 5th
- Form 23F-74U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer A E Price
- Jockey M Bradburne
raced keenly, mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened 6th
- Form 10/0844-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M R Bosley
- Jockey J Diment
in rear, jumped right 3rd, headway when not fluent 4th, weakening when not fluent 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Sub Artic (IRE)
357- Form PU2/768-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer S E H Sherwood
- Jockey J Tizzard
in touch, lost place 4th, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Lenny The Blade
264- Form 0977-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Miss Sarah Robinson
- Jockey C Honour
in touch, disputing close 3rd when mistake 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 2/8P-80
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey Tony Evans
always behind, ridden 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 6th
- Form 73P-641
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mrs D A Hamer
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
- Form 6P-037P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey T J Malone
raced keenly, always prominent, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, mistake last, weakened flat
- Form 00-7975
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey D R Dennis
chased leaders, close 3rd when mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, weakening when not fluent 2 out
- Form 446-P05
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 78
in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
In depth
Verdict
This really is a very poor novices' handicap hurdle and shortlisted are Brilliant, a winner last time out, Honour's Dream and Sub Artic and the vote goes to Brilliant. Although only a selling handicap hurdle, Di Hamer's gelding still has a decent chance here even with a 9lb rise for that success because this is as weak as it gets in this sphere. Honour's Dream is back over a more suitable trip after being well beaten at Exeter last time and with that pipe opener plus cut in the ground in his favour he could go well. Sub Artic has shown glimpses of promise but not nearly enough to support him financially yet, while if he handles the ground then Sylvan Shack could be worth considering if the market speaks in his favour after a long break. Castlemainevillage is another who couldn't be ruled out in a race where you'd be hard pressed to lay on the cash, but Brilliant is a tentative choice.
Formwatch
Petroupetrov (FR) 22-1 (11-2) In touch, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Menelaus (11-0) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 17 ran.
Cemgraft 16-1 (10-7) Held up, headway 5th, struggling after 3 out, jumped left and not fluent 2 out, 11th of 17, 32l behind Zirkel (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Sargentos (GER) 40-1 (11-7) Led, headed after 6th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 16, 27l behind Naxox (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs.
Sylvan Shack (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Chased leader until approaching 7th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Azzemour (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) gf in May '05.
Honour's Dream (FR) 20-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden 7th, weakened 8th, 10th of 13, well behind Bernard (9-7) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Ushnu (USA) 12-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden 8th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Win A Rose (11-1) at N Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept, 14 ran.
Castle Frome (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Led until unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Never So Blue (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 16 ran.
Castlemainevillage (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place 3rd, soon struggling, stayed on again from 2 out, 4th of 16, 11l behind Tytheknot (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Sub Artic (IRE) 100-1 (11-1) Always in rear, 8th of 12, 33l behind Busy Isit (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Lenny The Blade 15-2 (10-5) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 18, 32l behind Kelv (10-11) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Les Baux Belle (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division until weakened 3 out, 10th of 18, 31l behind Pasco (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs.
Brilliant (GER) 10-1 (10-4) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden clear 2 out, driven, stayed on flat, won at Leicester 2m 4f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gf beating Just Superb (11-11) by 3l, 16 ran.
Monash Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Always in rear, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Brilliant (10-4) at Leicester 2m 4f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gf, 16 ran.
Sarahs Gift (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Keen, tracked leader, led soon after 4 out, joined 3 out, weakened and headed before 2 out, 5th of 8, 16l behind Earlsfield Raider (11-3) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) gd.
Madam Harriet 50-1 (10-7) Prominent, led approaching 5th, headed approaching 2 out, weakened, 5th of 14, 12l behind Katess (10-10) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Mandalay Lady 50-1 (10-10) Held up, struggling 6th, hit next, tailed off from 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Takotna (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (3) gf in Nov.