Racecards
15:35 Chepstow
totepool Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 41-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up
- Form 2/421P-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
led, headed before 4th, tracked leader until before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, rallied before last, soon chased winner, kept on and always held
- Form 53111-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey J E Moore
close up, led 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on strongly
- Form 1332-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Donal Devereux
held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, soon weakened
- Form 121P11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer R Stephens
- Jockey T J O'Brien
with leaders, led before 4th, headed 5 out, weakened before 3 out
- Form 21121
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
- Form F23-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out
- Form 122423-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer A King
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up mid-division, headway 5 out, chsed winner from 4 out until ridden last, no extra
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Paul Nicholls has won four of the last seven renewals and could be on the mark again with VICENTE. The five-year-old did really well to foil smart chaser Present View at Cheltenham eight days ago when looking beaten at the last. The pair pulled clear of the third and the form looks solid. Four-year-olds have a decent record in the Grade 2 and easy Newton Abbot winner Son Du Berlais looks a better bet than My Direction. Mile House has been impressive this season and there is plenty more to come from Blaklion. He pulled hard on his hurdling debut at Perth but still managed to beat a previous winner and is held in high regard. The Pirate's Queen ran in decent company last season but, though often placed, struggled to get her head in front.
Formwatch
Son Du Berlais (FR) 1-5fav (11-4) Chased clear leader, closed when not fluent 4th, challenged 2 out, led on bit before last, not extended, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Val D'arc (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Vicente (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, went 2nd after next, 1 length down last, soon ridden and every chance, stayed on to lead narrowly towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gd beating Present View (10-12) by hd, 6 ran.
Blaklion 4-9fav (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 4th, ridden run-in, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Perth 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Pumped Up Kicks (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Henllan Harri (IRE) 4-5fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jun beating Always Archie (11-5) by 6l, 4 ran.
Mile House (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Jumped right, took keen hold tracking leader, led narrowly 3rd, clear before last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Lily Waugh (10-12) by 6l, 4 ran.
My Direction 3-10fav (11-11) Tracked leader, not fluent 4th, led before 3 out, clear after next, comfortably, won at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep beating Macarthur (11-5) by 5l, 5 ran.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up, closed on outside from 3rd, went 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs beating Bandit Country (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
The Pirate's Queen (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Held up in rear, not much room when mistake 2nd, hampered on bend after 5th, headway 2 out, went 3rd before last, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 9, 14l behind As I Am (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gd in Apr.