Racecards
14:10 Ffos Las
Toteexacta Beginners' Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 1F20-FP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
led to 12th, led again 4 out, headed 3 out when weakening
- Form 44684-4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leader, led 5 out, headed 4 out, led again 3 out, headed last, kept on
- Form 1/11531-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up, weakened and mistake from 11th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
Pennek (FR)
57- Form 3333F-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
tracked leaders, pushed along and weakened from 4 out
- Form 4PP/3F0-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, no impression
- Form 101/294-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
held up, challenged 3 out, led last, all out
In depth
Verdict
A difficult race to weigh up with concerns over most of the runners. The suggestion is THE SLIOTAR ahead of Borrowaddy and Special Envoy. Blazing Bailey is the class act in this field but he rather lost his way over hurdles last season which led to a wind operation in the summer. The evidence of his sole start this season is inconclusive as to whether that has worked the oracle and it remains to be seen whether he has the enthusiasm for jumping. Pennek developed into a useful staying handicap hurdler despite often hitting a flat spot in his races. He's related to a winning chaser and merits consideration. Ballydub may be worth another chance as it's possible that he failed to act on testing ground at Chepstow but he took a heavy fall prior to that and couldn't be a confident choice. Special Envoy was capable of smart form over hurdles in his prime; he's struggled more recently but may be rejuvenated by a switch of yard and obstacles - the market should be useful. Borrowaddy has plenty to find on form over hurdles but the Irish point winner is progressive which can't be said of some of his rivals and he's bred to jump fences. The Sliotar was well beaten on his one run over fences to date but that came at idiosyncratic Fakenham and it may be worth giving this dour stayer another chance. He ran the race of his life on his latest start in the Pertemps Final in March and may be able to build on that over fences.
Formwatch
Ballydub (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Prominent, mistakes 3rd and 7th, jumped slowly and reminders next, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Synchronised (11-2) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Blazing Bailey 12-1 (11-0) In touch, reminders after 5th, mistake and reminder 7th, pushed along and no impression before last, 4th of 7, 23l behind Big Buck's (11-8) at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Nov.
Borrowaddy (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 5 out, went 5th travelling well 3 out, 2nd 2 out, cruised to the front at last, ridden out close home, won at Kilbeggan 3m hcp hdl 0-116 gs in Apr beating The Bay Lad (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Pennek (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, reminders after 6th, tailed off 4 out, 11th of 16, well behind Diamond Harry (11-12) at Haydock 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Special Envoy (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 15th of 21, well behind Time For Rupert (10-10) at Aintree 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
The Sliotar (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, switched left and headway 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 22, 3 1/2l behind Kayf Aramis (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.