Racecards
19:00 Fontwell Park
Casino At Bet365 Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £3,400 added
- Form 622449-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey J Goldstein
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, outpaced after next, rallied and chased winner approaching last, kept on and no impression
- Form 7608-47
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R Johnson
close up, led after 5th, joined next, blundered 3 out, ridden and headed when blundered 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 573-221
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey M J Quinlan
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well from last, driven out
- Form 4987/P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey L P Aspell
close up when jumped right 1st, towards rear, hit 2nd and in rear, pushed along after next, tailed off from 5th, pulled up after 3 out
- Form 6B60/30-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Miss M P Bryant
- Jockey A Bird
held up towards rear, went moderate 4th after 3 out, weakened from next
Princess Soraya
195- Form 575-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up in touch on outside, pushed along after 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 8984-75
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey Gemma Gracey-Davison
led, headed after 5th, weakened approaching next, pulled up before 3 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
PLAY A CORD is the obvious choice in this contest and we side with her to be victorious, whilst Nobby Kivambo has much to prove and Appointment could challenge if rediscovering some good form shown earlier this year. Play A Cord won easily last time out at this course beating My Matilda by six lengths. Despite the rise in weights today, she remains the only horse in the field with any sort of recent success. Appointment would have a chance on the pick of her form but is still a maiden from fifteen starts. The Sheena West mare was recently thrashed when losing to Mayberry by a distance. This is not the best of signals and we oppose her today. Nobby Kivambo also recently lost at this course but connections clearly think highly of the gelding shown by the interesting jockey booking. Against a relatively weak field we side with the form horse Play A Cord.
Formwatch
Appointment 12-1 (10-13) Led until 3rd, chased leader until 5th, weakened 6th, soon behind, 9th of 14, 30l behind Mayberry (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Nobby Kivambo (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Hit 3rd, never travelling and always towards rear, 7th of 13, 29l behind Papradon (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Play A Cord (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 8th, chased leaders 3 out, 2nd soon after 2 out, led just before last, stayed on strongly, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd beating My Matilda (11-4) by 6l, 13 ran.
Capeleira (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) In rear, hit 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 5th, in a race won by Command Marshal (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May, 12 ran.
Hawk Gold (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) With leader, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Alldunnandusted (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
Princess Soraya 100-1 (10-5) Prominent, chased winner after 1st, led briefly 2nd, bumped 5th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Royal Mix (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Smart N Sharp (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Always in rear, behind when mistake 3 out, 5th of 8, well behind Ashmolian (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.