Racecards
13:20 Folkestone
Arena Leisure Novices' Hurdle (Class E )
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Soft (Chase - Good to Soft, Soft in places)
Kitski (FR)
48- Form 4P2031
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey Dave Crosse
tracked leader, led and pecked 3 out, headed and weakened between last 2
Alagon (IRE)
29- Form 5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
held up in touch, headway after 2 out, chased winner before last, closed under pressure run-in, held near finish
- Form 13
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C Tinkler
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
raced wide, in touch, chased leader 3 out, mistake next, led briefly between last 2, one pace before last, kept on run-in
- Form 2/P0-05
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
chased leaders, mistake 7th, weakened and mistake 3 out
- Form 40
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey A Thornton
held up, hit 1st, mistake next, ridden 8th, effort under pressure between last 2, 5th and weakening when pulled up before last
Manque Neuf
17- Form 0/45-060
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Mrs L Richards
- Jockey M Batchelor
led, headed and blundered 3 out, weakened rapidly
Roznic (FR)
27- Form 343-5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey P Hide
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, lost place after next, struggling before 2 out, jumped right last
The Bosun
40- Form 0/00-P26
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A E Jessop
- Jockey C Bolger
held up, pushed along 7th, soon struggling, tailed off
Whist Drive
20- Form 4-03322
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Mrs N Smith
- Jockey M Foley
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway from next, chased leaders before 2 out, led well before last, driven and held on run-in
In depth
Verdict
Whist Drive has been knocking on the door in better company and should win this modest event Kitski and Crashtown Leader could provide most danger. The selection was just pipped by Reflected Glory at Lingfield back in November before chasing home the decent Versus over course and distance. Both were creditable efforts and he deserves to land a race of this nature. Kitski managed to get his head in front at Towcester last time, getting the better of the reluctant Star Time. It will be a difficult task with his penalty but he should still be in the firing line. Crashtown Leader has also visited the winners enclosure, winning a Uttoxeter bumper. He put up a decent performance on his hurdles debut when third behind Heir To Be and he will be difficult to keep out of the frame here. General Grey is from a top yard and may be capable of improvement, but Whist Drive has shown enough to warrant being the pick here