Racecards
15:55 Folkestone
Thomas Smith Birthday Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 110y
- Going: Heavy (Chase - Soft)
- Surface: Turf
- £3,000 added
- Winner: £2,055
- 2nd: £599
- 3rd: £300
- Form 215926
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in rear, hit 2nd, closed 4th, not fluent when on outside 3 out, led 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on same pace
- Form 387/04-8
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer John Berry
- Jockey W T Kennedy
tracked leaders, pushed along 5th, weakened 2 out
- Form 99-1F2F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 92
chased leader, led 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
Carmond (GER)
630- Form 4R8250/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up in 5th, headway approaching 4th, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 58-1P02
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
tracked leaders, challeged 2 out, led approaching last, soon edged left, stayed on well under pressure
- Form 400-P7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
led until not fluent 4th, ridden 2 out, soon struggling, stayed on same pace to take 3rd flat, no impression
In depth
Verdict
Despite falling twice, Owner Occupier has already proved better over fences than hurdles so it's slightly surprising to see him back over the smaller obstacles unless connection think he needs a confidence-boost. Zelos Diktator's only previous win over hurdles came in a Wetherby seller last April but he's been running well at a modest level on the Flat over the summer and should go well. The choice, however, is J'ADHERE, who had a nice blow-out in a competitive jumpers' bumper at Southwell last week and is meeting inferior opposition today.
Formwatch
J'Adhere (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway over 7f out, ridden over 4f out, edged left 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 14, 17l behind Recession Proof (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (4yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Kadouchski (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway and in touch 5th, weakened 2 out, 8th of 17, well behind Prince Du Seuil (11-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Owner Occupier 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, fell 5th, in a race won by Irish Guard (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Carmond (GER) 16-1 (11-7) Always in rear, tailed off, 10th of 11, well behind One of The Boys (10-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in Apr '09.
Zelos Diktator 14-1 (11-10) Prominent, went 2nd well before 2 out, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Lords Bridge (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in Jul.
Celtic Ballad (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Chased leader until 4th, weakened and hit 4 out, tailed off 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Amuse Me (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.