Racecards
16:50 Ffos Las
Toteexacta Flexi Betting Chase (handicap) (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £19,011
- 2nd: £5,616
- 3rd: £2,808
- 4th: £1,404
- Form 42-1211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
always prominent, left in lead 9th, hard driven when jumped left 2out, soon strongly challenged, held on gamely, all out
- Form 06F-13F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey Peter Toole
raced in rear, under pressure approaching 8th, eased before 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2out
- Form 0-5128P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, soon lost place, mistake 5th, soon well in rear
- Form U06024-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Donal Fahy
tracked leaders, left in 2nd at 9th, under pressure 3out, gradually faded
- Form 5-7F442
- Age 11
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Flint
led until 2nd, remained prominent, pushed along when hampered 9th, never able to challenge
- Form 146-233
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in rear, headway halfway, chased leaders approaching 3out, soon one pace
- Form P14256
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey K Burke
settled in mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 9th, soon chasing leaders, weakened before 3out
- Form 112/112
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
raced in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on under pressure, always held
- Form 170-831
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
pulled hard, led 2nd, jumped right throughout, mistake 4th, fell 9th
In depth
Verdict
GRAND LAHOU carries a penalty for his 18 length success at Stratford on good ground but he's due to race from a 10lb higher mark in future so it's no surprise to see him turned out quickly in a bid to take advantage. The underfoot conditions will be very different but he was a heavy ground winner during his days in Ireland and should take all the beating if in the same form. This is competitive though and West With The Wind has proved a revelation since joining Evan Williams but the handicapper has left little to chance and a bigger threat may be posed by Knight Legend who, just over a year ago, finished a head second to Royal County Star from a 15lb higher mark. Yellow Flag has been in terrific form as has Nigel Twiston-Davies who saddles Nudge And Nurdle and both runners have to come under consideration.
Formwatch
West With The Wind 11-8fav (11-8) Made all, joined briefly 2 out, soon ridden, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (3) gf in Jun beating Lady Hillingdon (10-5) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Smack That (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, 6th and in touch when fell 4 out, in a race won by Passato (10-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Jul, 9 ran.
Killenaule Boy 40-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, ridden and weakening when not fluent 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Passato (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd, 16 ran.
Enlightenment (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, no headway 4 out, stayed on to take 4th closing stages, no impression, 4th of 16, 32l behind Chaninbar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Knight Legend (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Led until 2nd, led and jumped right 4th, went right next, headed 7th, no chance with winner from 3 out, flattered by proximity, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-9) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 5-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on under pressure to chase leading pair last, one pace flat, no impression, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Ragador (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Mibleu (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, took keen hold, went 3rd after 3rd, chased winner 6th, no impression after 4 out, lost 2nd after 2 out, last of 6, 38l behind Grand Lahou (11-6) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Yellow Flag 7-4fav (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed last 150 yards, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Rockiteer (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Grand Lahou (FR) 5-2fav (11-6) Made all, clear approaching 2nd, reduced advantage 6th, drew well clear again before 3 out, steadied into and mistake last, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Norborne Bandit (10-11) by 18l, 6 ran.