Racecards
14:10 Wetherby
Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre 'national Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £3,500 added
- Winner: £2,398
- 2nd: £699
- 3rd: £350
- Form 102/0-1P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 119
held up mid-division on inside, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced when hampered approaching 3 out, in 3rd and held when left 8 lengths 2nd last, no impression
- Form P-1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey S Byrne
held up mid-division in 6th, jumped right 1st and 3rd, lost place after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
Eagle Owl (IRE)
202- Form 3120-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey R McGrath
held up mid-division in 5th, took keen hold, hit 5th, headway on outer after 4 out, ridden after next, no impression
Errington
20- Form 40/7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey J P O'farrell
led, reminders approaching 6th, jumped right 3rd, weakened after 4 out, in 8th and well held when fell 3 out
Habbie Simpson
195- Form 314-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
tracked leaders in 4th and keen, jumped right 1st and 3rd, ridden to lead approaching last, in command when left clear after last, kept on well
- Form 8
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey M J McAlister
held up towards rear and keen, headway from 4 out, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on to take 3rd after last
- Form 37-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey B S Hughes
chased leaders, jumped right 1st and 3rd, went 2nd approaching 6th, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, 4 lengths down in 2nd when fell last
Pikasso (FR)
986- Form 5306/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs P Sly
- Jockey David England
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out
Rockstown
194- Form P-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey W T Kennedy
chased leader, jumped right 1st and 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 03-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
held up towards rear and keen, hit 2nd, not fluent 4 out, soon reminders, soon weakened, hampered 3 out
Are Olive
20- Form 76
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer T D Walford
- Jockey R Walford
in rear, pushed along after 6th, soon weakened
Verdict
Tim Easterby's National Hunt horses have yet to hit top gear but his Flat horses are running well enough and a chance is taken with EAGLE OWL on his hurdling bow. He represents the same connections as Border Reiver who landed this prize in 2008 and he looks capable of going close having shown a decent level of form in bumpers last season despite proving out of his depth at Aintree on his final start. A number of his rivals do have the edge in experience and Front Of House has more than most but has something to prove on debut for a new yard as he bids to get his career back on track. Icy Colt needs to continue to progress in order to follow up whilst the market may help guide to the chances of useful bumper performers Habbie Simpson, Jago River and Rushing Nature whose hurdling bow was not devoid of promise.
Formwatch
Front Of House (IRE) 10-11fav (11-2) In rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 5th, ridden and weakeend approaching 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Cotswold Charmer (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f cond nov hdl (4) hvy, 8 ran.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Jnd ldrs 10; chall 2 out; qcknd to ld nr fin, won at Cold Harbour 2m 4f ptp in May beating Beau Troubadour (12-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Eagle Owl (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, stuggling 3f out, 11th of 20, 29l behind Megastar (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Errington 18-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, led 2nd, headed after 3 out, weakened after next, 7th of 12, 43l behind Monogram (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs.
Habbie Simpson 8-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, no impression, 4th of 12, 29l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-4) at Ayr 2m NH flat (4) gd in Apr.
Howizee 50-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear on outer, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, 8th of 15, well behind Lively Baron (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs.
Jago River (IRE) Evensfav (10-8) Mid-division, headway 6f out, pushed along 5f out, weakened 3f out, 7th of 12, 34l behind Tiptoeaway (11-2) at Hexham 2m nhf (6) gs in Apr.
Pikasso (FR) 28-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 5th or 6th, never dangerous, 6th of 17, 30l behind Ambrosinni (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Feb '08.
Rockstown 40-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Hellfire Club (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Rushing Nature (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced 7th, 5th 3 out, ridden and stayed on to go remote 3rd near finish, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 12, 46l behind Love of Tara (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Are Olive 10-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, outpaced approaching 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 7, 20l behind Diamond Mm (10-10) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft.
Icy Colt (ARG) 9-2 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, led 7th, ridden approaching and mistake last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Montoya's Son (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ballet D'anges (FR) 66-1 (10-7) Led 6f, tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 10, 16l behind Rocking Blues (11-0) at Kelso 2m NH flat (5) gd.