Racecards
13:20 Wetherby
Wetherby Racecourse Supporting Spinal Research Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £10,500 added
- Winner: £5,337
- 2nd: £2,459
- 3rd: £1,229
- 4th: £615
- Form 1U36P2-
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Mrs P Sly
- Jockey Harry Kimber
raced keenly, held up in rear, bit closer at 3rd, good headway out wide chasing leaders at the last, stayed on strongly under pressure run-in, went 2nd last strides and closed, just held
- Form 113831
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey Alan Doyle
close 3rd on inside, challenging for lead when bad mistake 3 out, still well there with every chance when awkward last, weakened towards finish
- Form 94213-1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey Thomas Willmott
led, strongly pressed at the last, ridden and stayed on run-in, headed close home, lost 2nd final strides
- Form 6/73644-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Mrs A Duffield
- Jockey Tom Midgley
chased leader, went right 1st, pushed along before 3 out, weakened 3 out
- Form 321426-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Theo Gillard
held up in 4th, headway chasing leaders under pressure before the last, stayed on gamely run-in, led towards finish
- Form 66-7031
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 108
held up in last pair, pushed along and headway on inside chasing leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened run-in
Verdict
Romeo Brown did win over 2m at Hexham last season but needs much further on flat tracks like this and will probably need the run. Most of Fransham’s career victories have come around here but he does look a couple of pounds too high over hurdles at present. Hurricane Ali has already won four times this year, including last month at Southwell, but SONNING appears to have recaptured his useful juvenile form of last winter and may defy his penalty with Collingham running for the first time since April and Fusain having an even longer absence to overcome.
Formwatch
Fransham 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 4th, looked to be going best approaching 2 out when not fluent, hit next, ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 2 1/4l behind Kannapolis (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Hurricane Ali (IRE) 9-2 (12-2) Raced on inside, tracked leader, led between last two, driven out, won at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gf in Sep beating Elham Valley (11-11) by 1l, 7 ran.
Romeo Brown 20-1 (10-4) Made all, went clear after 3 out, ridden after last and ran on, reduced lead closing stages but always holding on, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gs in May beating Panic Attack (10-7) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Fusain (FR) 66-1 (11-8) Awkward 1st, raced in 4th, went 3rd after 4 out, stayed on same pace, from next, no chance with leading duo, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 11l behind Green Book (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Collingham (GER) 9-2jfav (11-0) Held up, headway on inner 2 out when not fluent, pushed along and outpaced approaching last, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 17l behind Half Shot (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Sonning (IRE) 15-8fav (12-0) Held up in touch in mid-division, raced keenly, closed after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, idled towards finish, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Spantik (11-13) by 3/4l, 9 ran.