Racecards
14:45 Hexham
Eldon Square Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,300 added
- Form 2234-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Miss P Robson
- Jockey Miss R Davidson
held up in touch, headway 3 out, ridden and went 2nd between last 2, kept on flat, not reach winner
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey K Renwick
tracked leaders, led 3rd, quickened clear after next, driven and stayed on well flat, comfortably
Blue Opal
166- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer Miss S E Hall
- Jockey T J Dreaper
behind, lost touch 3 out, never dangerous
Cuccinello (IRE)
228- Form U856-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer I McMath
- Jockey M J McAlister
behind, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never near leaders
- Form 645
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
led to before 2nd, not fluent next, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
- Form P6-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey B S Hughes
in touch, ridden and outpaced between last 2, no impression approaching last
- Form 0P24-47
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey G Lee
in touch, led before 2nd, headed next, chased winner until lost place between last 2, one pace
In depth
Verdict
Safari Run, Artless and Petrovka look the three to concentrate on in this mares only race and the vote is given to Safari Run. The selection has won her last two races in good style notably when beating Imperial Rose she has been found an easy opening for her fuirst run in England and under conditions that suit she is taken to win again. Artless hails from a top yard and won at up to two miles on the flat. However the suspicion is he will be seen to better effect over a longer trip and she is taken on with this in mind. Petrovka is another with place claims on her best form but she would be better off with the selection if this was a handicap and she is taken on with this in mind. Blue Opal has won at up to a mile and a half on the flat and is another that could go well but Safari Run sets a fair standard and she is taken to win again.
Formwatch
Safari Run (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Chased leaders, headway to 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, asserted after last, kept on well, won at Down Royal 2m mrs nov hdl gs in Jun beating Imperial Rose (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Artless (USA) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 6f out, led 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, 4th and no extra final furlong, 4th of 11, 4l behind Farmer Brown (10-10) at Wexford 2m stk gd in Aug (Flat).
Blue Opal 12-1 (8-10) Never a factor, 10th of 12, 20l behind Experimental (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 4f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Apr (Flat).
Cuccinello (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Held up, steady headway on outside after 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, no extra last, 6th of 13, 10l behind Dance The Mambo (11-12) at Catterick 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Errigal Queen (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon one pace, 5th of 11, 22l behind Razor Royale (10-9) at Perth 2m nhf (5) gd in Sept.
Great Quest (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Always behind, 6th of 14, 22l behind Daldini (10-10) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Petrovka (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, 7th of 14, 27l behind Onefourfun (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.