Racecards
14:45 Folkestone
Weatherbys Printing Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Form 90621P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss A M Newton-Smith
- Jockey Gerard Tumelty
made all, joined last, kept on gamely run-in
- Form 636-571
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Jim Best
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
held up in last pair, under pressure approaching 3 out, plugged on approaching last
- Form P37P3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked winner to 6th, regained 2nd 8th, ridden and weakened between last 2
- Form 0-09853
- Age 11
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
took keen hold early, tracked leaders, chased winner 6th to 8th, stayed chasing leaders, ridden and one pace approaching last
- Form P-42P3P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 95
took keen hold early, tracked leaders in 4th, headway to track winner well before last, upsides and mistake last, kept on run-in but always held
- Form 867P-93
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey P Merrigan
held up in last pair, headway on outside between last 2, weakened before last
Jacopo (FR)
1414- Form 422416/
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey O Nelmes
raced in 5th, weakened 3 out, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before last
Top Ram (IRE)
106- Form P144-34
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey J M Maguire
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Stars Delight is no spring chicken, but has the ability to follow up here, with the likes of Pardon What, Come Bye, Top Ram and Come Out Firing all seen as possible dangers. Considering that he is now a 10-year-old, Stars Delight has not had a lot of racing, having been seen out just 17 times in all since 2002. In fact he missed out the whole of 2003, and had just one outing the following year, so it would appear that there is plenty left in the locker still, judged on his latest effort. That was at Taunton in January when he slogged through the mud to get home in a close finish over an extended three miles, so despite a rise in the handicap as a result, he can again be fancied with conditions to suit. Pardon What is not badly treated on last season's form, but is still a maiden after 42 career starts, while fellow 11-year-old Come Bye would appear to have it to do off topweight. Come Out Firing has a bit more scope as the youngster of the party, and Top Ram will be fitter for this first outing since bumping into Sobers, literally, round here in November. He can make a fist of it in handicaps, but for now we are happy to stick with Stars Delight.
Formwatch
Come Bye (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 10th, behind when pulled up in race won by New Perk (10-6) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs, 10 ran.
Stars Delight (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up, progress 8th, stayed on under strong pressure flat, led near finish, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Raki Rose (10-2) by a nk, 11 ran.
Come Out Firing (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, mistake, lost touch 5th, kept on one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Kick And Prance (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Pardon What 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, outpaced approaching last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Young Dancer (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Harry Collins 25-1 (11-9) In touch, slipped on bend after 11th, not jump well and behind after, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Black Collar (10-7) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
Lannigans Lock 14-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden and mistake 2 out, headway soon after, jumped right last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Lyrical Lily (9-12) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy.
Jacopo (FR) 10-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, one paced from next, 6th of 16, 6l behind Fork Lightning (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Apr '03.
Top Ram (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) In touch, driven to challenge between last 2, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Sobers (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.