Racecards
15:40 Fontwell Park
Abc-dry (Southern) Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Form 3R1F2-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey Mr N Harris
close up and always going well, led 3 out, stayed on well
- Form 1-441
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up, steady headway into mid-division 5th, chased winner after 3 out, beaten when pecked last, lost 2nd near finish
Rodalko (FR)
61- Form 02-F14
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey A P McCoy
not jump well, prominent, mistake 5th, weakened and mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
Almost Broke
334- Form 2-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
behind, headway 7th, weakened 3 out
- Form 02
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
in mid-division when mistaken and lost place 6th, pulled up before 3 out, lost action
Easy Squeezy
18- Form 5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
prominent to 5th, soon lost place and behind, tailed off
- Form BU-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
pulled hard in mid-division, smooth headway after 4 out, weakened after next
- Form 0350
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer L A Dace
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
chased leader, led after 7th, headed 3 out and weakened quickly
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N M Babbage
- Jockey P J Brennan
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
led to just after 7th, weakened quickly after next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Prairie Star
21- Form 03
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Buckler
- Jockey A Honeyball
prominent until weakened after 7th, tailed off
- Form 0-160
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A Ennis
- Jockey L P Aspell
behind, headway 4 out, ridden and kept on same pace from after next
Wintertide
30- Form 1102/4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, headway 6th, stayed on to take 2nd near finish but no chance of winner
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R Greene
held up, mistake 2nd, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
Cash Return
11- Form 0000
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey M Batchelor
mistake 1st and 2nd, headway 5th, ridden after 4 out and soon weakened, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Impressive on his debut at Fakenham, Chief Witness looks a horse with a future. A winner between the flags in Ireland, he will obviously do better when he goes chasing, but in the meantime there are prizes to be won with him over timber. He will not have things all his own way as Fork Lightning looks another promising novice. He is clearly going the right way and his defeat of the useful Balladeer bears the closest inspection. Ludlow winner Rodalko looks to have something to find, and isn't certain to confirm the form with Barcham Again on 7lbs worse terms for less than two lengths. Hurdling debutante Almost Broke is one to keep an eye on as is Bob Buckler's Prairie Star, although the latter may do better when he goes handicapping.