Racecards
12:35 Ascot
Ascot Introductory Novices' Hurdle (Class B)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J Old
- Jockey L P Aspell
prominent, tracked leader after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th and no chance when fell last
- Form 055
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G Edwards
- Jockey Mr D Edwards
in touch, weakened and behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up, effort to track leading pair after 5th, weakened after 3 out
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
pulled hard, held up, headway to track leaders approaching 2 out, went right and led soon after last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
- Form 2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led until after 2nd, mistake next, led again after 5th, headed after 3 out, weakened quickly
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey Dave Crosse
took keen hold, held up in rear, struggling 6th, tailed off and pulled up before last
Pawn Broker
329- Form 6-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey A Thornton
held up in rear, hit 6th, stayed on to press leaders approaching 2 out, one pace before last
- Form 11U-3
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
held up in rear, steady headway from 6th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed soon after last, kept on under pressure flat
- Form 2
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Mrs N Smith
- Jockey M Foley
held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, chased leader approaching 2 out, joined leaders last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat all out
In depth
Verdict
Attorney General has more to do than when beating another of today's rivals Good Lord Louis at Newton Abbot, and even though Vodka Bleu is sure to be popular, a chance is taken with the enigmatic Pawn Broker. A decent, if somewhat quirky character on the flat, he looked to run just as well as ever when chasing home Far Lane in a Group 3 contest at Newmarket last month on his favoured sound surface, with the likes of Naheef and Muqbil well held in fourth and fifth. He disappointed on the only occasion he has jumped hurdles in public, when fading into sixth at Newbury, but it may pay to forgive him that effort as it was on unsuitable heavy ground. Goblet Of Fire was a useful performer for Brian Meehan on the flat and is worthy of plenty of respect on this hurdling debut. He is with the right yard to get the best out of him at this game. Dual-bumper winner Vodka Bleu has a huge reputation, but proved a costly failure on his hurdles debut when turned over at 4/11. It would be folly to right him off after one poor effort. Full House was nothing special on the flat and will have to find plenty if he is to be competitive here, while King Summerland is out of a mare that won over seven-furlongs, and isn't guaranteed to stay this far. The penalised Attorney General has plenty on his hands trying to give the weight away. The winner of a Classified Stakes race for Sir Michael Stoute at Thirsk in August, he would be receiving 29lbs off Pawn Broker if this were a flat race. If there is to be a turn up it could be the former Peter Harris trained Marrakech, now in the hands of Dina Smith. The six-year-old had several decent efforts to her name on the flat including the defeat of course specialist Mana D'Argent here off a mark of 92. She didn't achieve a great deal on her first run over timber when chasing home Ela Jay (well beaten since), but she is open to improvement. However, Pawn Broker is a classy animal when putting it all in and he could just prove too strong for his rivals.