Racecards
16:20 Ascot
Ascot United Football Club Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Form 111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey T J Phelan
always tracking leaders, led approaching 3 out, mistakes 2 out and last, stayed on well flat
- Form 23-3213
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
led to 2nd, ridden and weakened 9th, behind when pulled up before next
- Form 05
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S Sherwood
- Jockey J Culloty
mid-division to 5th, behind when pulled up before 7th
- Form 12/2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
led 2nd, headed 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 320-5F2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, pressed winner 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
- Form 102/04
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 60
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Harris
- Jockey B Hitchcott
held up, headway and blundered badly 6th, behind from 10th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 622-235
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
Kipling
33- Form 653
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey J Goldstein
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up after next
- Form B-43U
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Antony Evans
chased leaders, ridden approaching 10th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Quainton Hills
101- Form U/4234-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Stoddart
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 3-1P3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
held up and behind, some headway 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 0/000-P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C Mitchell
- Jockey L Cummins
mid-division to 9th, soon behind, pulled up before next
In depth
Verdict
A line through Nicky Henderson's Slooghy suggests that Cowboyboots has the beating of likely favourite Murphy's Cardinal but there are strong reasons for dispelling that theory. Most paramount of those is that the Lawrence Wells-trained runner failed to build on his 19 length defeat of Slooghy (handicap winner off a mark of 112 at Newbury last week) at Fontwell when a 30 length third behind Tees Components at Doncaster subsequently. Murphy's Cardinal by comparison has done nothing wrong since beating the Henderson horse on his hurdling debut at Folkestone in December, running out a 29 length winner of a better race on a return visit to the same course last month. Undefeated following three career starts, he looks an improving gelding and can maintain his unbeaten record. Of the others Alan King's Alleged Slave ran well after a long absence when chasing home Master McGrath at Chepstow last month and provided he does not suffer from the "bounce" factor has to be considered a danger along with Flat racing recruit Quedex, who has found one too good in his two starts over hurdles so far. By Degree showed his first worthwhile form when second to Supreme Prince at Wincanton earlier this month but this is tougher. The remainder make limited appeal.