Racecards
14:15 Chepstow
Royal Air Force Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,800 added
- Winner: £3,119
- 2nd: £916
- 3rd: £458
- 4th: £229
- Form 0333-3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey N de Boinville
chased leader, led before 4 out, clear when hit 3 out, idled before last, always doing enough flat, driven out
- Form 2111-4P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leading pair until approaching 5th, soon given reminders, behind after 7th, eased from next, tailed off
- Form 218-244
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Donal Devereux
held up, mistake 2nd, headway on outside chasing leaders next, 3rd approaching 5th, ridden in 4th after 3 out, stayed on into 2nd flat and closed on idling winner, always held
- Form F0/6222-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer P Gundry
- Jockey Brendan Powell
took keen hold, soon held up in last pair, losing touch when pulled up before 6th
- Form 154P31
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer David Dennis
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
led until headed and dropped to 3rd approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out
- Form 2B8-59
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer T Symonds
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
chased leaders, pushed along after 7th, 2nd before 4 out, ridden after 2 out, dropped to 3rd flat
- Form 1/64P7-P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Alain Cawley
held up in last pair, ridden after 7th, headway into 3rd before 3 out, weakened before last
In depth
Verdict
Twice a winner over fences including at Wetherby last week, Steel Summit has yet to score over the smaller obstacles. CASTARNIE posted a better effort on his return to action at Plumpton when finishing third and Robert Walford's charge gets a tentative vote with further progress on the cards. Tokyo Javilex landed a hat-trick over fences earlier in the year including a couple of wins here and can race off a lower mark back over hurdles while Flintham may finish closer after a pipe-opener at Uttoxeter.
Formwatch
Flintham 14-1 (10-9) Led until 1st, chased winner until ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 10, 37l behind Minella Present (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Tokyo Javilex (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, mistake 8th, ridden before 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up, in a race won by Bob Ford (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Oct, 7 ran.
Princess Tara (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out until 3 out, pushed along and no extra in 4th before next, 4th of 11, 21l behind Shantou Bob (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Young Cheddar (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th or 6th, went 2nd after next, ridden and no impression when not fluent 2 out, well held last, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Fairytale Theatre (11-3) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Steel Summit (IRE) 7-4 (11-12) Made all, left well clear 2nd last, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Have You Had Yours (11-2) by 27l, 3 ran.
Eaton Rock (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, ridden after 5 out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 23l behind Sunshine Buddy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Eastern Witness (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Mid-division, hit 1st, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Sunshine Buddy (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft, 14 ran.
Castarnie 12-1 (11-0) Led, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Saint John Henry (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy.