Racecards
13:25 Chepstow
Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle (grade 2) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Form 322111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up, some headway 7th, ridden 4 out, plugged on
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
tracked leader, headway and led after 7th, ridden and clear when jumped left 2 out
To Arms
134- Form F1P3-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer K J Burke
- Jockey Tony Evans
in touch, closer order 6th, ridden and weakened 4 out
- Form 28-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
behind from 6th, pulled up before 2 out
Jaunty
289- Form 33004-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey Christian Williams
keen, always in rear, behind from 6th
- Form 23-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer T Hogan
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in touch, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened 4 out
- Form 1/1520-1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led, clear 4th, headed after 7th, weakened 2 out
Bay of Magenta
1133- Form 8/
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer A J Whiting
- Jockey S P Jones
held up and keen, lost touch after 4th, pulled up before 5th
- Form 213P9U
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 107
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Pigeon Island has been in good form of late winning each of his last three starts and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding has to be respected but he may struggle to give weight away to Elusive Dream, who gets the vote ahead of Presenting Copper. The last mentioned has shown gradual improvement over hurdles, running out a decent winner here last time, but this looks tougher and she may have to settle for a minor role. Triple bumper winner Kirbybroguelantern has to be respected but lack of hurdling experience for the Irish raider has to be of concern, while Amble Forge would need to improve on bumper form to take a hand here. The vote then goes to Elusive Dream who had some decent form on the level and showed no signs of fatigue on his long awaited return to action when making a winning hurdling debut at Market Rasen last month.
Formwatch
Pigeon Island 9-2jt-fav (10-9) Held up, smooth headway approaching 2 out, shaken up to lead after last, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept beating Decisive (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Elusive Dream 1-2fav (10-12) With leader, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, not fluent last, driven clear, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept beating French Opera (11-4) by 9l, 12 ran.
To Arms 12-1 (11-0) In touch, headway 3 out, led approaching next, soon clear, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Jun beating No Regrets (11-6) by 11l, 7 ran.
Amble Forge (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leader, ridden 4 out, every chance 3f out, one pace after, 8th of 14, 22l behind West Ridge (11-2) at Wincanton 2m nhf (6) gs in Dec.
Jaunty 50-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, lost place after 5th, 4th of 9, 20l behind Youll Do For Me (11-6) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Kirbybroguelantern (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders, headway to 4th halfway, improved to lead 5f out, clear from 3f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, kept on well, won at Down Royal 2m nhf gs in Jun beating Kingcove (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 20 ran.
Presenting Copper (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2nd, left clear 2 out, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gd beating Theatrical Moment (10-12) by 9l, 15 ran.
Bay of Magenta 33-1 (10-5) Always in rear, lost touch from 5th, 8th of 10, well behind Icarus Dream (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 3yo nov hdl (D) gf in Sept '04.
Investment Wings (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden 6th, soon weakened, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Middleton Dene (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs, 7 ran.