Racecards
12:30 Haydock Park
Betfair Newton Novices' Hurdle (listed) (Class 1)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £35,000 added
- Form 542-110
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Thomas
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner after last, kept on, no impression
- Form 4232-51
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey P Aspell
tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, soon outpaced
- Form F1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
held up and keen, weakened after 3 out, eased from last
- Form 11-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey A P McCoy
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened 1f out
- Form 1114/24
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey B S Hughes
tracked leader, led approaching last, shaken up, stayed on well
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
DOESLESSTHANME, a winner of both his starts in bumpers and on his hurdling debut at Kelso last month, has solid claims for the in-form Howard Johnson stable, and is taken to continue winning ways here, getting the vote ahead of Alfie Flits and Font. The last mentioned was capable on the flat and has made an encouraging start to his new career since joining Paul Nicholls with wins at Wincanton and Cheltenham but he disappointed at Ascot earlier this month and may now be best watched. Richard Fahey's Bolodenka only just did enough when successful at Newcastle last week and this looks tougher, while Sea Storm has more to do than when winning at Wetherby last time. Alan Swinbank's Alfie Flits was high class in bumpers and showed decent form on the level subsequently but he has yet to translate that form over timber and a safer option looks to be Doeslessthanme.
Formwatch
Font 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, blundered badly 5th, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 15, 29l behind Sentry Duty (11-0) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Sea Storm (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, driven to lead last, kept on well flat, won at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (3) gf beating Billie Magern (11-0) by 4l, 11 ran.
Bolodenka (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching last, just held on, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gs beating Skylancer (10-12) by a shd, 16 ran.
Doeslessthanme (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Prominent, every chance 3 out, led approaching last, pushed out, won at Kelso 2m nh mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct beating Son of Flicka (10-9) by 4l, 15 ran.
Alfie Flits 11-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, hit 2 out, soon every chance, beaten last, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 8l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.