Racecards
13:30 Haydock Park
Billinge EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 144y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £10,400 added
- Winner: £6,758
- 2nd: £1,984
- 3rd: £992
- 4th: £496
- Form 121-41
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey David Noonan
chased leader, challenged 4th, led 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, not fluent last, held flat, kept on
- Form 216-33
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
led until 3 out, led again and landed awkwardly 2 out, driven out
- Form 36/417-7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Harry Bannister
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 22-2565
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 4 out, weakened before 3 out
- Form 31-50
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey James Bowen
held up towards rear, headway on outside 5th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 2-15
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Henry Oliver
- Jockey J McGrath
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, nudged along and lost place before 3 out, no impression after, not fluent last
- Form 45
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
chased leaders, mistake 2 out, unable to challenge, kept on flat
In depth
Verdict
A coupe of these stand out from the rest including Ebony Jewel. But he’s returned a losing favourite in both outings to date over hurdles and could only manage third over course and distance last time. FIRST LORD DE CUET (NAP) makes more appeal as he made no mistake when starting favourite over today’s trip at Southwell earlier in the month and with a first-time tongue-tie likely to bring further progress, David Pipe’s grey looks the one to side with. Frimeur De Lancray looked liked placing before falling at Catterick on his first outing after wind surgery and could go well with a clear round while the betting suggested The Newest One would go close at Ludlow on his hurdling bow but he struggled to get involved.
Formwatch
First Lord De Cuet (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Made all, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m mdn (4) sft in Dec beating South Seas (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Ebony Jewel (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Led, slow 1st, ridden approaching 2 out, headed flat, outpaced by winner, 3rd of 7, 5 1/4l behind Marie's Rock (10-7) at Haydock 2m (2) sft in Dec.
Enlighten 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 3rd, mid-division after, weakened 4 out, 7th of 13, 19l behind Ashington (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Full Of Roque (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, lost place approaching 3 out, no real progress from 2 out, 5th of 16, 12l behind Normandy Soldier (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Loco Coco (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Always behind, struggling from 6th, 13th of 16, dist behind Normandy Soldier (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Mcgarry (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 28 1/2l behind Steal A March (10-12) at Hereford 2m 6f (4) hvy in Dec.
The Newest One (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 16, 22 1/2l behind Garry Clermont (11-0) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Frimeur De Lancray (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, 1 1/2 lengths 3rd when fell last, at Catterick 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.