Racecards
13:00 Chepstow
Derry Nicklin Retirement Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form PPP30P-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer N G Ayliffe
- Jockey Dave Crosse
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, weakened and mistake 7th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
Barton Legend
228- Form 41-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D P Keane
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
keen hold, tracked leaders, weakened after 7th, tailed off
- Form 12F-114
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
held up, ridden and weakened after 7th, tailed off,
- Form 539-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
keen hold, tracked winner until after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, hit next
Mister Quasimodo
231- Form 1410-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
pulled hard, held up, hit 2nd, mistake 5th, headway 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon ridden no impresson
- Form 1111U1-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
made all, clear 2 out, very easily
- Form 616-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, chased winner after 7th until approaching 2 out, weakened last
In depth
Verdict
Already a winner over fences in his native France, Neptune Collonges has an obvious chance on his hurdling debut for Paul Nicholls and is taken to make a winning start to his career in the UK with Mister Quasimodo and Barton Legend rated the main dangers. Mister Quasimodo finished down the field in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when last seen and, as usual, that race has thrown up plenty of winners so he has to be respected. Paul Keane's Barton Legend beat Mars Rock (a hurdle winner on Monday) in a Uttoxeter bumper when last seen and could be of interest on his hurdling debut. Bilton's Nap should come on for his recent racecourse debut, while Royal Coburg has shown ability in bumpers and is another to consider but Neptune Collonges looks a decent recruit and could be too classy for his rivals.
Formwatch
A Pound Down (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, lost touch 8th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Bill Owen (10-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Barton Legend 8-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led over 3f out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (H) gs in Mar beating Mars Rock (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Bilton's Nap 11-10fav (10-11) In touch until dropped rear 4th, pushed along and headway to join leader 6th, ridden and weakened after 8th, 4th of 10, 28l behind Frosty Jak (11-1) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (E) gs in Oct.
Kildonnan 5-2fav (11-4) Prominent, led after 2f to over 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 11, well behind Billyandi (11-4) at Towcester 2m nhf (H) sft in Mar.
Mister Quasimodo 40-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, effort over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 20th of 24, 40l behind Missed That (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nhf Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Neptune Collonges (FR) (10-6) Made all, impressive, won at Auteuil 2m 4f chs hvy in Apr beating Balko (10-10) by 15l, 9 ran.
Royal Coburg (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Made most to 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, 6th of 18, 11l behind Powerlove (10-3) at Perth 2m nhf (H) gs in Apr.