Racecards
14:50 Wetherby
wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 3m 26y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,599
- 2nd: £763
- 3rd: £382
- 4th: £191
- Form 57P/71-4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer A M Thomson
- Jockey Steven Fox
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
- Form 891/8-33
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders, went 3rd from 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
- Form 013P-36
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey Craig Nichol
held up mid-division, went 2nd before 6th, ridden and chance last, kept on and well held run-in
- Form 323/6-P1
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J R Norton
- Jockey Colm McCormack
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, weakened before 3 out
Optical High
54- Form 665431
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Stephen McCarthy
close up, led 4th, headed after 5th, weakened before next
- Form 005524
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Joe Colliver
held up mid-division, soon pushed along, lost place after 5th
- Form 222P-33
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey R Johnson
led to 4th, outpaced before 6th
- Form 675/PPF
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 83
in rear, headway 6th, ridden and kept on before last
- Form 8FP-PU7
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in touch, headway before 4 out, soon went 2nd, weakened before 3 out, pulled up
Blue Cove
18- Form 750-242
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Miss L C Siddall
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
prominent, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before last
- Form 027-278
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer S Waugh
- Jockey Amie Waugh
held up towards rear, headway before 5th, led after 5th, pressed before last, kept on well run-in
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Prairie Lad was having his first start since scoring over 3m2f at Kelso almost a year previously when looking one-paced at Carlisle in November but started favourite so must have been showing something at home. Rocky Stone won this in 2014 and is just 1lb higher. He looked as though he was ready to win soon when third at Catterick last time. Gorey Lane has improved recently and battled to victory at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve. OPTICAL HIGH's young rider rode a sound tactical race at Market Rasen where Sue Smith's charge was well suited by heavy ground. A 10lb rise makes things more difficult but there should be more to come and he gets the nod to follow up. Mr Mcgregor ran a shocker over fences last time though can revert to hurdles on a lower mark but Blue Cove is still a maiden after 25 starts over hurdles.
Formwatch
Prairie Lad 11-4fav (11-8) Close up, lost place 5th, ridden 4 out, effort before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 18l behind Finaghy Ayr (11-2) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Rocky Stone (IRE) 10-3fav (11-10) Tracked leaders from 2nd, effort 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with front pair before last, 3rd of 9, 8 3/4l behind Cumbrian Farmer (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Jonny Eager (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Not fluent 1st, led or disputed lead until ridden and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Cumbrian Farmer (10-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Gorey Lane (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, hampered 1st, headway 7th, led 2 out, 2 lengths clear flat, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Agent Louise (10-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Optical High 10-3 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 8th, clear 3 out, jinked left approaching last, ridden out, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (5) hvy in Dec beating Black Lily (10-10) by 13l, 7 ran.
Triumph Davis (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) In rear, headway before 3 out, one pace, weakened before last, 4th of 11, 28l behind Redkalani (11-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Mr Mcgregor (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) With leader, led 4th, headed after 10th, chased winner, reminders after next, lost place 5 out, behind from next, plugged on to take remote 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, dist behind Armedanddangerous (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Cleve Cottage 11-1 (10-9) Mid-division, fell 2nd, at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Notonebuttwo (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened last, 7th of 14, 18 3/4l behind Simarthur (11-4) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Blue Cove 40-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Redkalani (11-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Newyearsresolution (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up off the pace in 5th, headway into 2nd 5th until approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind Marlee Massie (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 5f hcp (5) hvy in Dec.