Racecards
16:40 Ayr
Norwich Union Novices' Handicap Hurdle
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 82-1617
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Mrs R L Elliot
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
led, headed 3rd, led again 4th, hit next, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace
Nerone (GER)
23- Form 0373
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey N Mulholland
badly hampered and unseated rider 1st
- Form 5-09
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 96
fell 1st
- Form 2-46800
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 95
held up, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 0B00/54
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 89
in touch, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, led 3 out, clear from next, easily
- Form F6484
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer A R Dicken
- Jockey K Mercer
held up towards rear, ridden along 5th, tailed off approaching 3 out
- Form PP/P-402
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Mrs J C McGregor
- Jockey G Berridge
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 8P6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
- Form P10064
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Mrs J C McGregor
- Jockey G Lee
chased leaders, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
- Form 888
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey K Renwick
held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 986453
- Age 7
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey B P Harding
with leaders and keen, led to 3rd, headed next, ridden 3 out, weakened next
- Form 5460P-3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, soon lost place
- Form 075
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer F P Murtagh
- Jockey D C Costello
held up, tailed off approaching 3 out
In depth
Verdict
King's Envoy may well have been flattered by his proximity to Rehearsal at Musselburgh last month but the handicapper has seen fit to raise him 20lbs in future handicaps so he has to be the choice and gets the vote ahead of Diamond Mick and Nerone. The last mentioned ran a race full of promise when a close third behind the useful and the David Johnson-owned gelding has to be respected on his debut in a handicap. John Wade has his team in good form so the lack of a recent run for his Mandhoor need not be of concern although he needs to improve on the form shown in novice races to win this and of more interest may be Off The Edge. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding has shown only limited ability so far but may do better now that he goes handicapping. Top weight Diamond Mick disappointed when running in this grade for the first time at Kelso recently but it may be too soon to write him off completely. Blue Morning has claims of his lightweight with Graham Lee taking the ride but preference is for stablemate King's Envoy, who is taken to make the most of his favourable mark.
Formwatch
Diamond Mick 4-1fav Chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 33l behind Welsh Dream at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Feb.
Nerone (GER) 50-1 Held up towards rear, headway from 6th, ridden and challenged 3 out, every chance last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Credit at Musselburgh 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (B) gf in Feb.
Bogus Dreams (IRE) 2-1fav Tracked leader, challenging when stumbled badly 3 out, soon ridden, one pace when mistake last, 4th of 18, 16l behind Still Going On at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
King's Envoy (USA) 150-1 Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 12l behind Rehearsal at Musselburgh 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in Feb.
Off The Edge (AUS) 66-1 Held up, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 12, 14l behind Faasel at Ayr 2m nov hdl (D) hvy in Feb.
Blue Morning 20-1 Chased leaders, ridden 5th, outpaced after 4 out, 4th of 8, 22l behind Torkinking at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Jan.
Kalic d'Alm (FR) 10-1 Chased leaders, ridden and hit 3 out, chased winner approaching last, weakened flat, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Silver Sedge at Newcastle 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) sft in Feb.
Tetragon (IRE) 22-1 Led, headed 7th, remained prominent, ridden 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Top Style at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (F) sft in Feb.