Racecards
13:30 Folkestone
Daily Mail British Stallion Studs E.B.F 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 5)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £3,000 added
- Winner: £2,053
- 2nd: £598
- 3rd: £299
- Form 11-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, ridden, unable to quicken and came towards stands side approaching last, stayed on flat, went 2nd post, no impression on winner
- Form 1-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
took keen hold early, held up in last, not fluent 2nd, headway after 2 out, led last, readily
- Form 24
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
led until approaching 3rd, with leader, led 3 out, headed approaching last, soon beaten
- Form 20
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey L Treadwell
tracked leaders, pulled hard, headway to lead approaching 3rd, headed 3 out, losing place when slipped up on bend after 2 out
- Form 2-21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey D Bass
took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 3rd challenging when not fluent 2 out, headed when not fluent last, edged left flat, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd post
Freckle Face
23- Form 2584-82
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer W G M Turner
- Jockey Mr Turlough O'connor
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
An interesting little race with three winners of bumpers in opposition. Arbeo won a Fontwell bumper on heavy ground very impressively before landing the odds over this C&D in soft going. He's obviously a decent performer though how he'll cope with today's much faster conditions is another matter. BALLYCLOUGH is more likely to handle the going as it was good ground when he gained a surprise success at Haydock in March. A full-brother to the useful Crocodiles Rock, he can make a winning start over timber. Tony Dinozzo has the advantage of having won on fast ground when scoring at Fontwell and has plenty of scope but the form of that race has worked out badly and he's likely to be at short odds here. Reste Jeune was beaten a long way on his hurdling debut but both Caulfields Venture and Freckle Face have done enough over timber to warrant respect.
Formwatch
Arbeo (IRE) 4-9fav (11-9) In touch, went close 3rd after 4f, went 2nd inside final 3f, challenged 2f out, soon ridden to lead, in command and stayed on well final furlong, won at Folkestone 2m 1f NH flat (5) sft in Mar beating Getaway Driver (10-1) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ballyclough (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar beating Red Rocco (9-13) by 4l, 10 ran.
Caulfields Venture (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 4th, every chance 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 15, 17l behind Golden Gael (10-5) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Reste Jeune (FR) 40-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, led 1st to 5th, wandered next, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Molotof (10-12) at Wincanton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs.
Tony Dinozzo (FR) 8-13fav (10-12) In touch to 5th, headway to 3rd 7f out, led over 5f out, pushed along and in command over 1f out, came clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gf in Jun beating Titch Strider (10-4) by 5l, 8 ran.
Freckle Face 7-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, led 1st and set steady pace, 6 lengths ahead 3 out, hung left on bend and reduced lead before next where mistake, wandered under pressure no extra and headed before last, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Adrenalin Flight (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.