Racecards
14:00 Hereford
Letheby & Christopher Novices' Claiming Hurdle (Class F )
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f
- Going: Soft
- Form 1-PF0
- Age 7
- Weight 12-3
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
in touch, jumped right 2nd, headway 10th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
- Form P663/P-U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D L Williams
- Jockey C M Studd
always behind
Pitminster
27- Form 026-666
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey P Griffiths
held up and pulled hard, headway 5th, hit 7th, mistake 9th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Sylphide
23- Form P13226
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer H J Manners
- Jockey J A Jenkins
always behind
- Form P60
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey A Thornton
prominent and keen, led after 3 out, clear when jumped right last, easily
Anflora
6- Form P-P05F0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, hampered 2nd, reminders and headway approaching 9th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 000-00
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Dr J R J Naylor
- Jockey R Walford
mid-division, hit 7th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
- Form 4UP-4PP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey Mr T J Dreaper
held up, headway 9th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N G Ayliffe
- Jockey Dave Crosse
keen, headway to lead after 1st, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened quickly
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
led, headed after 1st, tracked leaders until weakened after 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
- Form 30P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
mid-division, ridden after 8th, weakaened after next, tailed off and pulled up before last
In depth
Verdict
This is a weak claimer and it may pay to concentrate on the Paul Nicholls pair, Combat Drinker and Pitminster, with the first named getting the vote, Sylphide is also one to consider. Stable jockey Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride our selection who takes a big step up in trip after looking very one paced over two and half miles. He has been running in much better company so we are hopeful the drop in grade and hike in distance may bring out some improvement. Pitminster was well beaten in a seller last time but showed enough last season to suggest he is better than that. As with the selection he steps up in distance and it would be no surprise to see him involved in the finish. Sylphide does at least have winning form, having landed a modest handicap at Worcester off a mark of 76. There will be no ground of trip worries for this mare and she should be in the shake up. So not a very inspiring contest and Combat Drinker is just a sporting selection