Racecards
14:40 Catterick
European Breeders Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class E)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 3-621
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
made all, shaken up approaching 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, easily
Ballyards (IRE)
293- Form PPP232-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey J R Ryan
fell 4th
- Form 31-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
mid-division, mistake 7th, headway and blundered 8th, no impression from next
- Form 000
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Supple
- Jockey T J Phelan
towards rear, some headway after 3 out, never dangerous
- Form F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakening when stumbled and unseated rider 2 out
- Form F-P0P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
held up towards rear, effort 7th, tailed off from next
- Form 3520-42
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey V T Keane
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
Lescer's Lad
267- Form 0/03-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Hetherton
- Jockey P Aspell
chased winner to 4th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 01124-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey R Garritty
in touch, lost place approaching 6th, soon pulled up
- Form 53
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe
- Jockey B P Harding
chased leaders, chased winner from 4th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
- Form 3433
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey A Ross
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, no impression
Weston Rock
18- Form 6-25345
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T D Walford
- Jockey R Walford
in touch, outpaced four out, kept on and no impression from 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Meggies Gamble bids to follow up a facile victory at Wetherby under a penalty, with Classical Ben and Kids Inheritance providing what look to be only serious dangers. Anybody who witnessed the demolition job performed on his rivals by Venetia Williams' seven-year-old at Wetherby three weeks ago will not want to oppose him here. Granted, all of his rivals that day let him march on, but the gallop became relentless, and it was pretty evident by half way that he was not in the mood to stop. He finished a distance clear in the end, and using the time between himself and the runner-up as a guide, he had something like 52 lengths in hand. So, the question is, can a six-pound penalty stop him? Ground conditions appear ideal, and the opposition does not appear to be a great deal stronger, so the answer has to be no, although one or two of these might give him more of a test. Classical Ben opened his account in bumper company at the fourth time of asking here three weeks ago and is sure to have been well schooled, while Kids Inheritance finished to good effect when just failing to get up at Musselburgh on his second start over hurdles and will be more at home in the softer ground. He should be involved for a place, but Loopy Linda has stamina limitations to overcome. Fencote was staying on in fifth behind Steppes Of Gold at Kelso when falling at the last, and is another that can be considered for a place at a decent price. However, a reproduction of his last run should ensure that Meggies Gamble proves hard to pass.