Racecards
16:35 Hexham
Sis St. John Lee Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £4,300 added
- Form 351P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
made all, clear until approaching 5th, pushed out
- Form 8-52211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
prominent, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace
- Form 3286-P0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 97
tracked winner, not fluent 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace
- Form 9
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey Ryan Mania
held up in rear, weakened from 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
James Lambe's Nocturnal Knight has proven to be expensive to follow over hurdles and on the flat and, while he undoubtedly has claims in a relatively weak looking novices' hurdle, it is hard to get away from ROCKYS CHOICE, who can give weight away to his rivals with Blacktoft looking the pick of them. The selection has shown improved form in winning his last two starts in novices' hurdles on heavy ground at Cartmel and fast ground at Plumpton and he can defy the penalties for those successes. Santiago Atitlan was well held on his hurdling debut at Perth last month and of more interest may be Pat Haslam's Ivestar, who is capable on the flat and he could improve for going over hurdles. Stable companion Bucephalus has little going for him and a bigger threat may come from recent Worcester soft ground winner Blacktoft, who should not be inconvenienced by the faster ground today. Tim Vaughan's Rockys Choice has shown progressive form of late though and is hard to oppose.
Formwatch
Blacktoft (USA) 11-1 (11-6) Led, headed, mistake 4 out, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Corum (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Aug, 7 ran.
Rockys Choice (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Held up well in rear, steady headway from sixth, chased leader after 3f out, 1 length down and trying to close on inside when badly hampered last, no impression flat (awarded race), won at Plumpton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep beating Rockys Choice (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Ivestar (IRE) 15-2 (8-10) Held up in rear, pushed along and reminders over 5f out, soon beaten, last of 4, well behind Tajweed (8-12) at Redcar 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) sft in May '08 (flat).
Nocturnal Knight 20-1 (11-7) Soon mid-division, ridden and no impression 4 out, 14th of 21, 33l behind Born High (10-13) at Cork 2m hcp hdl 8Evens09 gd in Aug.
Santiago Atitlan 50-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 12, 50l behind Mesbaah (10-12) at Perth 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Bucephalus (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Never better than mid-division, 17th of 24, well behind New Phase (11-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 5yo mdn hdl gd in Apr.