Racecards
16:40 Haydock Park
James Halstead Novices' Chase
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 029921
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
with winner, led 4th, blundered 6th, headed next, mistake 10th, lost place 13th, rallied and disputing 2nd when blundered 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 322114
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer H P Hogarth
- Jockey D O'Meara
tracked leaders, ridden after 14th, disputing 2nd when blundered 3 out, no extra towards finsih
- Form 281F43
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey B J Crowley
held up, headway 11th, ridden to disputing 2nd from 2 out, not quickened towards finsh
- Form 42-2111
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A P McCoy
led to 4th, led again 7th, driven out
- Form 708451
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in touch, mistake and lost place 10th, behind and jumped right from next
- Form 243142
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey R Garritty
held up, headway 11th, weakened 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Schuh Shine and Imperial Dream look among the major principals in a fascinating chase. Venetia Williams' charge caught the eye of many when scoring here earlier in the season and in spite of a couple of early errors, he looks a progressive enough chaser to follow. Imperial Dream hails from an unfashionable yard and is of interest now he is dropped below three miles. He failed to stay further than that distance at Catterick on his latest start but he is a solid enough jumper and his Newcastle form would give him a major say. The drop in trip is a worry for Cool Cossack backers while Edmo Yewkay rarely misses the frame. Tunes of Glory is stepped up markedly in trip having been largely campaigned in both Britain and Ireland over two miles or thereabouts. Some chasers of the future on view here and Schuh Shine is nominated to come out on top on this occasion.
Formwatch
Cool Cossack (IRE) 3-1fav Led, blundered 15th and 3 out, headed next, switched right approaching last, rallied to lead again flat, all out, won at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (E) gs beating Thyne Man by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Imperial Dream (IRE) 7-2 Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Time To Reflect at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Jan.
Jordans Lad (IRE) 2-1 Tracked leaders, ridden when hit 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Rakassa at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (C) sft.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 4-6fav With leader, mistake 3rd, led 6th to 7th, led again after 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, hung right approaching last and flat, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Feb beating Special Conquest by 1/2l, 4 r.
Tunes Of Glory (IRE) 9-1 Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, ridden last, edged right flat, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f beg chs (D) gd beating Tonic Du Charmil by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Edmo Yewkay (IRE) 13-8fav With leader, left in lead 5th to 8th, ridden and every chance from 2 out, soon edged right, stayed on, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Rakassa at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (C) sft.