Racecards
14:40 Fontwell Park
Wbx.com World Bet Exchange Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Form 111-21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 130
tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 6th, mistake 11th, led on bit 2 out, always in command after
- Form 1317-1U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
with leader, led 6th, driven along from 10th, headed 2 out, soon beaten
- Form 1F353P/
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey D A Jacob
led until 6th, soon struggling, pulled up before 8th
- Form 761PF4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P Butler
- Jockey Charlie Studd
soon behind, left remote 3rd at 10th, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
An Accordion can beat his main rival The Luder, with He's The Boss best of the other pair. An Accordion was not exactly inexperienced when making his bumper debut in Listed company at Cheltenham in November, having won three point-to-points previously, so it was no surprise when he ran a promising race to finish runner-up to Cork All Star. This half-brother to the stable's Horus was then put straight over fences at Leicester later that month, and fully justified his short price. With lots of improvement still to come, he can make up into a top staying chaser in time, and is taken to follow up here. His main rival The Luder has been seen a lot more under rules, and indeed was a fair hurdler, but he got no further than the third at Taunton last time and needs to brush up his jumping if he is to give the selection a race. He's The Boss was tailed off behind a Pipe inmate, Control Man, when last seen at Cheltenham in December 2004 and is best watched, while Spring Brook is there to make up the numbers. Basically, this looks good for An Accordion with Tony McCoy to steer him round.
Formwatch
An Accordion (IRE) 4-9fav (10-13) In touch, mistake 1st, left 2nd 12th, led and hung left from 2 out, hung badly left at the last, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gd in Nov beating Reach For The Top (10-13) by 6l, 7 ran.
The Luder (IRE) 15-8 (11-6) Led until blundered and unseated rider in race won by Il Duce (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Dec, 5 ran.
He's The Boss (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, jumped slowly and lost place 1st, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 8th in race won by Control Man (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (B) gd in Dec '04, 11 ran.
Spring Brook (IRE) 100-1 (10-7) Lost touch 7th, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Flying Enterprise (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Dec.