Racecards
17:05 Ascot
Durham Ranger Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 14
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A Day
held up, headway after 5th to join leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last
Niagara (IRE)
133- Form 2-2P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M Tompkins
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
led 2nd, headed approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, kept on well under pressure
- Form 0-02001
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
always tracking leaders, joined leader 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, no extra when headed close home
Enitsag (FR)
30- Form 1116
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr J E Moore
held up towards rear, driven 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 416P03
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
led 1st, headed next, prominent when short of room on bend after 5th and lost place, ridden and weakened 3 out
Exodous (ARG)
268- Form 65-30
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Old
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up rear, good headway from 6th to track leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on, not reach winner
Six of One
18- Form 666
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
tracked leaders until ridden 3 out, weakened soon after, well behind
- Form 510P53
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer L Wells
- Jockey M Batchelor
mid-division, headway 5th, led 6th, ridden when not fluent 2 out, challenged and headed approaching last, ran on to lead again close home, all out
- Form 0P6
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer J Best
- Jockey B Hitchcott
in touch, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace until weakened after 2 out
- Form 0020-P4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Mrs Merrita Jones
- Jockey T J Phelan
mid-division, driven 5th, ridden and lost place 4 out
- Form 00P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
soon well behind, some late progress, never nearer
- Form F50
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Davies
in touch until weakened 4 out
Mountrath Rock
140- Form 4/3-40
- Age 6
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer Miss B Sanders
- Jockey J R Kavanagh
always behind
- Form 30000
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Mrs L Taylor
- Jockey H Oliver
keen hold, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, weakening 3 out, hit 2 out, soon well behind
In depth
Verdict
A wide-open novices' handicap hurdle to finish off the card presents a very difficult puzzle for punters to solve. Gary Moore has his team in great order at present and he saddles two who hold realistic chances. We'll Make It had been set some tough tasks and relished the drop in class for an easy win last time. He races under a seven pound penalty here and has to be on the shortlist. His stablemate Mixed Marriage was a surprise winner on his debut over hurdles in a slowly-run race, however was firmly put in his place last time and is best opposed. Enitsag won both his bumpers and scored on his debut over hurdles before a very disappointing performance in handicap company last time. A month off could have sharpened him up as he was quite highly-rated earlier this season and remains open to improvement. However it is possible that he was put in on a harsh handicap mark and may need as ease in the weights. Almnadia had some really good pieces of novice form and this tough front-runner is more than capable. She seemed to just lose her way before a good third in a very competitive Warwick race on her handicap debut last time. This represents a slight ease in class and this filly is taken to run them into the ground from the front. Of the remainder Mick Fitzgerald is an eye-catching jockey booking on Niagara. The six-year-old who is a good handicapper on the Flat at his best had a couple of good runs over hurdles last year including when second behind Puntal. However when last seen over obstacles he disappointed at Huntingdon, finishing in a distressed state. If returning to his best he has a race like this in him so could easily go well.