Racecards
16:00 Hereford
Cheltenham Preview Evening At Hereford Racecourse Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm Patches
- Form 0-0U002
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
made all, comfortably
- Form P0PF00
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
behind from 4th, tailed off 6th
- Form 5-244
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Thomas
held up, ridden approaching 7th, headway after 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd last, not trouble winner
- Form 621-360
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey R Biddlecombe
held up, lost touch from 4th, tailed off 6th
Cool Spice
45- Form 21335
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Mr R Stephens
held up, mistake 5th, headway 7th, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened last
- Form 1P-623P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey A O'keeffe
held up, headway 7th, ridden when rider dropped whip after 2 out, one pace flat
- Form 0-40200
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Baker
- Jockey B Hitchcott
chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra flat
In depth
Verdict
Football Crazy, Fragrant Rose, Cool Spice and Lewis Island look the principles in this handicap hurdle and we will side with Football Crazy. The selection ran well when fourth behind Fool On The Hill last time at Wincanton, and as he was well clear of the rest of the field on that day, he could be capable of taking this. He was a useful sort on the flat and has further scope for improvement over hurdles, and with conditions to suit he is expected to run a big race. Fragrant Rose is a course and distance winner who was in no mood to co-operate last time at Ludlow behind French Mannequin, but if he can reproduce his best form he would be a danger to all. Cool Spice ran a fair race behind Ele Re at Cheltenham last time and looks to have decent place prospects here, while Lewis Island is from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and could be capable of a big run as he showed an improved level of form behind Leith Hill Star last time. This looks quite competitive and Football Crazy is put forward as the tentative choice.