Racecards
16:20 Exeter
Agatha Christie Challenge Trophy Beginners' Chase (Class E )
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Form 4304/P0
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey B J Crowley
in touch, hit 2nd, headway 9th, fell next
- Form 2410P/4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
with winner, ridden after 12th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form PP0P/PP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P R Rodford
- Jockey Mr R Mccarthy
behind from 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 20-1622
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey A P McCoy
made all, mistakes 2 out, soon ridden, just held on
- Form 12-2434
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in touch, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 42-3342
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
chased leaders, hit 7th, weakening when hampered 10th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 212-425
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey Dave Crosse
in touch, ridden after 12, kept on same pace
- Form 2211-PP
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D J Minty
- Jockey P Griffiths
never travelling in rear, tailed off from 10th
- Form 61-2334
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up behind, headway approaching 9th, ridden after 12th, rallied approaching last, stayed on, just failed
In depth
Verdict
Le Jaguar gets all the allowances here and can beat Ile de Paris and Jivaty. The Paul Nichols trained gelding is steadily improving with each outing and with each step up in trip. Over two miles and five furlongs last time he did well to finish four lengths behind Calvic. The extra couple of furlongs today shouldn't be a problem and it looks his best chance of the season. Ile de Paris and Jivaty met over course and distance in December, with the Philip Hobbs runner coming out best. There was just two lengths between them in that contest won by Trust Fund and on identical terms today Ile de Paris should confirm the form. The best of the others should be Lesdream, a decent handicap hurdler making his chase debut. So not a race to go overboard where betting is concerned, but Le Jaguar does hold strong claims and just gets the nod