Racecards
14:40 Hereford
Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 18 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Form 76P922
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey D R Dennis
led, headed briefly 5th, headed after 6th and soon weakened
Be Positive
50- Form 96/53-86
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed and weakened soon after
Toledo Sun
93- Form 5P3/0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer S Curran
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 6th
- Form 9-656P8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
in touch, ridden 4 out, soon held
- Form F3/168-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Sir John Barlow Bt
- Jockey R McGrath
mid-division, weakened after 6th
Just Superb
13- Form 5F7PP3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer P A Pritchard
- Jockey J Diment
in touch, ridden 6th, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 3P08-6P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer S A Brookshaw
- Jockey P Kinsella
mid-division, ridden and weakened 6th
Estancia
28- Form 800
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Miss Tor Sturgis
- Jockey M Foley
mid-division, ridden and weakened 6th
- Form 455090
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer C P Morlock
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
always in rear and soon ridden along
High Commission
117- Form 466
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
Young Guns (IRE)
109- Form 4-84380
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey Dave Crosse
never a factor
- Form 097
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
Kelv
13- Form 41-0070
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey J M Maguire
in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ran on
- Form 5PU/95P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Mrs P N Dutfield
- Jockey R Young
in rear when fell 2nd
- Form 0-80089
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 85
towards rear, hit 4th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 50-0970
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Mrs S M Johnson
- Jockey T Siddall
mid-division, lost place 4th, stayed on from 3 out
- Form U0780
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey W McCarthy
mid-division, headway 6th, chased winner from 2 out, one pace
Lowe Go
17- Form 7FF000
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Miss J S Davis
- Jockey M Goldstein
tracked leaders, led briefly 5th, weakened after 3 out
In depth
Verdict
San Marco has joint topweight but can prove up to the task ahead of Toledo Sun, Just Superb, Kelv and High Commision to name but a few. San Marco has not managed to win since scoring at Bangor in 2004, and having had a year off, he then had a fruitless campaign last term. However, he did show signs of a return to form when last seen, finishing runner-up on each of his last two outings, and if anywhere near fit, can surely take a hand here, with conditions to suit. Toledo Sun made a lot of the running before tailing off on his belated return to action at Ludlow in January, and is worth bearing in mind, as he was in good form on the Flat when last seen three years ago. He would probably prefer further than today's trip, but with Timmy Murphy booked, connections will be hopeful of a big run. Just Superb has not won for three years, but showed a glimmer of hope when third in a seller last time, while Kelv is interesting on his handicap debut. High Commision also makes his handicap bow and tackles fast ground for the first time, so has to go on the short-list, but in a race which makes limited appeal as a betting medium, we return to San Marco as the answer.