Racecards
16:50 Chepstow
Evan And Megan Brace Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,800 added
- Winner: £3,119
- 2nd: £916
- 3rd: £458
- 4th: £229
Ugly Bug
33- Form 721P1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
led until after 3 out, no extra in 4th before last
- Form 473140
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey Brendan Powell
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, no extra after 2 out
- Form 311433
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
in touch in mid-division, headway after 6th, edged left and ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on to take 2nd close home, no impression on winner
- Form 15620F
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Miss J S Davis
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, no extra after next
- Form 2-23414
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, no impression flat, lost 2nd close home
- Form 7612
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 114
mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened after next
- Form 00/0P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
prominent, mistake 2nd, weakened after 6th, tailed off
- Form 22F1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Ian Popham
held up, not fluent 1st, outpaced after 6th, struggling before 3 out, never on terms
- Form 90
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Michael Byrne
held up in rear, jumped left, bumped rival and unseated rider 3rd
- Form 1P2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 3rd, led after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, clear last, ran on well
- Form 88P/0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in rear, bumped 3rd, jumped slowly 5th, lost touch next, tailed off
Upton Oaks
48- Form 70-P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey James Davies
took keen hold, held up on outside, not fluent 1st or 3rd, closed 4th, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Stayer Ugly Bug is likely to find his double penalty a problem dropping down in trip but Darkestbeforedawn should appreciate a return to this grade after coming unstuck at Plumpton last time and makes more appeal than the 10-year-old Nataani and Timesishard, well beaten at Warwick last month when Ugly Bug was pulled up. Wincanton runner-up Seventh Sign is preferred to Plumpton second Dropzone of the two four-year-olds but both need to improve to trouble KILMURVY. Not beaten far in a Listed race at Huntingdon in February, he was a fair third in a handicap at Kempton 10 days ago and can reverse earlier Exeter running with Darkestbeforedawn on better terms.
Formwatch
Ugly Bug 10-3 (11-7) Chased leader until 2nd, chased leading pair, went 2nd again 3 out, edged left between last 2, ridden to lead last, stayed on flat, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar beating One Conemara (11-7) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Darkestbeforedawn (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 11, 33l behind Court Minstrel (10-8) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Kilmurvy (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 6th, driven and struggling after 7th, headway and plenty to do approaching 2 out, hung right and stayed on well flat, took 3rd final 100 yards, not pace to reach leading duo, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Kenai Peninsula (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Nataani (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, headway to 3rd at 10th, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead and staying on well when fell last, in a race won by Violin Davis (11-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf, 9 ran.
Timesishard (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 8th, headed well before 2 out, chased leader until ridden and one pace in 4th approaching 2 out,, 4th of 7, 27l behind Uxizandre (11-9) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Dropzone (USA) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out until soon after, every chance next, chased winner, ridden and one pace approaching last, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Dollar Bill (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4yo hdl (4) gd.
Missing The Craic 250-1 (10-12) Led after 1st, headed 3rd, led next, not fluent 5th or when headed 6th, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, pulled up after, in a race won by Moorlands Mist (11-0) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Mortlestown (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Mid div, 5th 6out & smooth prog 4out to disp bef 3out, cl 2nd 2out, ld bef last, sow, won at Dromahane 3m ire ptp in Mar beating Smiles For Miles (12-0) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mr Burbidge 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 17, 39l behind Call Carlo (11-4) at Wincanton 2m mdn NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Seventh Sign 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, every chance 2 out, soon hard ridden, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Southfield Theatre (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
The de Thaix (FR) 66-1 (11-8) Not fluent towards rear, behind from 4th, 10th of 15, well behind Descaro (10-10) at Ludlow 2m nov clm hdl (4) gd.
Upton Oaks 250-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, lost place after 4th, behind next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Moorlands Mist (11-0) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar, 15 ran.