Racecards
12:45 Ascot
Fernham Homes 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Winner: £5,005
- 2nd: £1,478
- 3rd: £739
- 4th: £370
Ballytober
28- Form PF114/7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders, joined leader 3 out, led approaching last, swerved badly left 50 yards out, kept on
- Form 57-3131
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
led, pressed from 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd close home
- Form 1-4
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd and 4th, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 15
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leader, weakened quickly 3 out
- Form F903/31-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Rich
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up in rear, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 3F1-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey Tom Cannon
held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, stayed on strongly after last to go 3rd close home
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Letsby Avenue was fourth at Plumpton on his hurdling debut but we were more taken by LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN's run behind Dunlough Bay at Lingfield. The Ffos Las bumper winner was a little keen on his first start over timber but showed plenty of promise and should go close here if settling better. Fiddlers Bid made all in a bumper here last month and is another to consider if staying the extra while Ballytober, denied a run at Exeter yesterday, will strip fitter for his run here last month and Wychwoods Brook was sent off favourite when runner-up at Leicester. Sergeant Dick and Westaway have shown ability and can't be discounted.
Formwatch
Ballytober 16-1 (11-0) Not always fluent, chased clear leader, closed 5th, lost 2nd next, mistake and lost place 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 12, 22l behind Many Clouds (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Fiddlers Bid 6-1 (11-0) Made all, driven 3f out, stayed on well final 2f, won at Ascot 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Nov beating Horizontal Speed (11-0) by 9l, 8 ran.
Letsby Avenue 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, blundered last, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 5l behind Billy Merriott (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Lookout Mountain (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 18l behind Dunlough Bay (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov.
Sergeant Dick (IRE) 4-5 (12-0) Ld, 2l adv 6out, hdd aftr 4out, ld again bef 2out, so, easily, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp gd in May '11 beating Two Euros (12-0) by 3l, 13 ran.
Westaway (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Prominent, outpaced over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 16, 30l behind Oscar Rock (11-0) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
Wychwoods Brook 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, landed awkwardley 6th, ridden to lead narrowly 3 out, clear with winner and headed next, weakened next, tired run in, just held on to 2nd, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Dungeel (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.