Racecards
15:50 Fontwell Park
Gerrard Financial Services Novices' Hurdle
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 3598-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey C M Studd
chased leaders, ridden approaching 5th, one pace from 3 out
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey B Hitchcott
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, lost touch from 6th, tailed off
- Form P0-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey P Davey
not jump well, chased leaders, led after 5th, blundered next and 3 out soon headed, 3rd and held when went left and unseated rider last
- Form 557/3F-P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer G P Enright
- Jockey Mr J Pemberton
prominent, led 2nd until next, stumbled on bend approaching 4th, hit 5th, soon lost touch, stayed on again from 2 out
Sean (IRE)
17- Form 7P-8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs L C Jewell
- Jockey T Scudamore
in touch until 6th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 082/27-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A Ennis
- Jockey L P Aspell
in touch, went right 1st, stumbled on bend approaching 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 70-0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
hampered 1st, never going in rear, behind and pulled up after 5th
- Form 62440-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey J Goldstein
in touch, ridden after 6th, jumped left from 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with winner
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer T G Mills
- Jockey Jim Crowley
in touch, led on bit after 3 out, soon clear, very easily
- Form 0-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer Miss A M Newton-Smith
- Jockey M Batchelor
led 1st until next, led 3rd until 5th, weakening when stumlbed 6th, pulled up before next
In depth
Verdict
Terry Mills has a rare hurdle runner in Settlement Craic which carries our vote with Lease Back and Dubai Ace being the main dangers. The selection was twice a winner on the flat over a mile and a half and ran second on his hurdles debut at Plumpton last time out. Jim Crowley again travels down from the north to ride him and with improvement will win this race. Lease Back was travelling well until unseating three out at Wincanton on his latest outing. He had finished a fair second on his hurdles debut prior to that and may well have won but for getting rid of his jockey last time out so is worth noting. Dubai Ace has been contesting in high class events around grade one tracks. He has also performed with credit against some good horses so this drop in grade will be in his favour so is one to put on the short list. But for the winner we return to Settlement Craic.
Formwatch
Blueberry Ice (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Always prominent, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (E) gf in Apr beating Bonny Grey (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Colony Hill (IRE) Broken Hearted gelding out of Arctic Raheen.
Peppershot 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Flintoff (10-11) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf, 9 ran.
Sound Skin (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden in 3rd when mistake 2 out, beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 9, 18l behind My Pal Val (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gf.
Can Can Flyer (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 1st, ridden after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off 2 out, 10th of 11, well behind At Your Request (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (E) gd in Apr.
Dubai Ace (USA) 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, soon in rear, 16th of 24, 27l behind Dabiroun (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Settlement Craic (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Held up in mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 6th, mistake and chased winner 3 out, kept on well flat, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Kilindini (10-12) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (F) gd.
Lease Back (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 7th, mistake 8th, going well when unseated rider 3 out in race won by Bowleaze (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gd, 17 ran.