Racecards
14:20 Folkestone
Mirror Punters Club Maiden Chase (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £3,500 added
- Winner: £2,395
- 2nd: £698
- 3rd: £349
- Form 1359-22
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey R J Killoran
chased leading pair, mistake 3rd, hit 7th, jumped slowly 9th and ridden, dropped to 5th when mistake and unseated rider next
- Form 4-85233
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased leaders, went 2nd after 8th, led before 10th, over 1 length ahead when pecked 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, weakened flat
- Form 23-2FF4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L Richards
- Jockey C Bolger
took keen hold, chased leader, led approaching 3rd until 6th, chased leader until after 8th, ridden and weakened 11th, went poor 4th last
- Form 1-5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
took keen hold, close 5th tracking leaders, went 3rd 10th, stayed on to 2nd before 2 out, lost 2nd blundered and weakened quickly from 2 out
- Form 6/5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey A Thornton
held up towards rear, reminders after 5th, never on terms, tailed off
- Form 42/FPF3
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
took keen hold, led until approaching 3rd, led again 6th until approaching 10th, chased leader until dropped to 3rd before 2 out, rallied to 2nd 2 out, led last, stayed on well, driven out
Venetian Lad
43- Form 6566-57
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L Richards
- Jockey M Goldstein
held up towards rear, headway to 4th at 12th, went poor 3rd last
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey J E Moore
well in rear, tailed off 10th, pulled up after 3 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Quite a competitive little novice chase and MERRION SQUARE is taken to score on his chasing debut. An Irish point-to-point winner, he'll have no problem with trip or ground and was in no way disgraced on his first run for Team Nicholls when a solid enough fifth at Chepstow. He's always looked a chaser in the making and is preferred to Cheney Manor. The latter has been runner-up on his two chase outings behind All For Free and Global Flyer but there is just a concern that this trip may stretch his stamina and he may be outstayed by the selection. El Padrino has fair each-way claims, whilst Lucy Wadham will have been pleased to see The Black Baron complete last time and he too has place claims along with Inner Steel.
Formwatch
Cheney Manor 4-1 (11-5) Pressed winner, led 9th until hit next, led 11th, hit 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Global Flyer (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
El Padrino (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, in rear, hit 7th, chased leaders 4 out, effort on outside when pecked next, stayed on to go 3rd last, no chance with winner, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Moleskin (11-5) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Inner Steel (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Led, jumped left 6th and 7th, headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, 19l behind Chac Du Cadran (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Merrion Square (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 15, 29l behind Knock A Hand (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Nov.
Red Anchor (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, hit 5th, headway to 5th next, struggling 7th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Flemi Two Toes (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy.
The Black Baron (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, mistake next, went 3rd after 6th, never any chance, 3rd of 5, 45l behind Kid Cassidy (11-0) at Ludlow 2m beg chase (4) gs.
Venetian Lad 9-2 (11-4) Chased leadrs, lost place before 9th, struggling in rear next, tailed off, 7th of 12, 28l behind Hazy Bay (11-10) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Rio Caribe (IRE) 100-1 (9-9) Mid-division, lost touch over 5f out, 11th of 12, well behind Mount Crystal (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fbs in Nov (flat).