Racecards
12:50 Doncaster
Janet Hopwood Happy Birthday Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Form 2D343-11
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Mrs K Walton
- Jockey R McGrath
behind, headway 8th, led approaching 3 out, clear 2 out
- Form 13-6124
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey G Lee
held up in touch, blundered 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 617U9P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Miss H Lewis
- Jockey P Merrigan
in rear, not fluent 4th, weakened from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 45P3-41
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
soon chasing leader, hit 8th, ridden 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, no chance with winner
- Form 8-22115
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J L Spearing
- Jockey N D Fehily
led, ridden approaching 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
- Form FF7122
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up mid-division, blundered 6th, lost place from next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 2/1-P15P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs A E Brooks
- Jockey C Poste
tracked leaders, hit 1st, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace from next
- Form 831/P-2P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up, struggling from 7th
Presumptuous
31- Form 511/P2U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey P Buchanan
towards rear, jumped right 6th, soon struggling, behind when fell 5 out
Vitray (FR)
28- Form 4/608-52
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
prominent, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 107-38P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
in touch, weakened from 7th
In depth
Verdict
Nevertika is the selection to complete the three timer at the expense of Mughas and Vitray. Kate Walton's charge has progressed with real credit throughout the first half of the season and has the beating of another of today's rivals Sunday City based on his most recent victory. While this event is another step up, a double penalty may not be enough to prevent the three timer. Mughas, a 153 rated hurdler has not displayed anything like his hurdle form however, a chance is taken with him returning to form with the Alan King yard firing in the winners. Vitray has been noticeably weak in the market on both his outings in this country and will need to step up on what he has displayed thus far. The market should prove the best guide to the remainder but Nevertika is taken to maintain his winning sequence.
Formwatch
Nevertika (FR) 5-4fav (11-6) Held up in touch, blundered 6th, smooth headway after 4 out, blundered 3 out, left clear 2 out, eased flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Sunday City (11-6) by 17l, 7 ran.
Endless Power (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) Led from 2nd, headed after 5 out, weakening when jumped badly left last, last of 4, 15l behind Daldini (11-1) at Haydock 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up behind leaders, lost touch 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Starzaan (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft, 5 ran.
King Louis (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Led until 3rd, tracked leader, led again 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Dec beating Gentle John (11-2) by 11l, 9 ran.
Soulard (USA) 8-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, chased leader to 12th, steadily weakened, 5th of 7, 16l behind Fundamentalist (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grad Ch (2) gf in Dec.
Sunday City (JPN) 9-2 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Cedrus Libani (11-10) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gd in Dec.
Franco (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led, headed 2nd, lost place 7th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by The Very Man (11-6) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft, 11 ran.
Mughas (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened from 4 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Gidam Gidam (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Presumptuous 6-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, blundered and unseated rider at the 10th in race won by The Gleaner (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
Vitray (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Led, ridden after last, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Gidam Gidam (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
River Logic (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, lost place 4th, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Missis Potts (10-5) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) sft, 6 ran.