Racecards
15:10 Kempton Park
Book Feb 25th & 26th Mares' Only Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class D )
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Form 02P601
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 0-33210
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 104
took keen hold, held up in touch, headway to track leading trio after 3 out, challenged next, no impression and weakened before last
Honey's Gift
23- Form 423106
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer G G Margarson
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leader, challeneged 5th to 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 2131
- Age 4
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
close up, challenged after 3 out, led narrowly approaching 2 out, narrowly headed flat, kept on under pressure
- Form 155020
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in rear, tailed off when mistake 3 out
Opera Hall
17- Form 36-0404
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey J P McNamara
raced wide, made most until headed approaching 2 out, weakened
- Form 6066-35
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
tracked leaders, challeneged from 2 out, driven ahead and kept on gamely under pressure flat
- Form 30-5042
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey W Marston
held up towards rear, some headway after 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 3466-30
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Miss I E Craig
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
behind, mistake 6th, lost touch after next
Zaffre (IRE)
100- Form 000-036
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Miss Z C Davison
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
pulled hard in rear, tailed off from 7th
In depth
Verdict
German import Floreana made a winning start for Charlie Mann when landing a novices' hurdle at Fakenham last month but faces no easy task on that evidence off a mark of 112 and preference is for Lady of Scarvagh, who gets the verdict over Honey's Gift. The last mentioned has claims on the evidence of her win at Fontwell in December and Tony McCoy again takes the ride but George Margarson's mare has twice disappointed since then and she may be best watched at present. Royal Niece receives weight from most of these and a market move for David Wintle's mare would be of interest. The Richard Phillips-trained Miniballist looks to be in the grip of the handicapper at present and of more interest may be Golden Bay. Jonathan Geake's mare has solid form in novice races and lost no caste in defeat behind the progressive handicapper Celtic Son on her handicap debut last time. The vote though goes to Michael Scudamore's Lady of Scarvagh, who is potentially well treated on the pick of her form and a reproduction of that may suffice.
Formwatch
Lady of Scarvagh (IRE) 9-2 In touch, led approaching 7th, all out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs mdn hdl (E) gs in Jan beating Ostfanni by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Golden Bay 8-1 Held up mid-division, headway 5th, led briefly 8th, headed before next, soon weakened, 7th of 20, 15l behind Celtic Son at Newbury 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Jan.
Honey's Gift 16-1 Held up towards rear, some moderate headway, never dangerous, 6th of 13, 8l behind Dark Society at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jan.
Floreana (GER) 15-8fav Keen, close up, mistake 5th, chased leader and mistake 2 out, ridden and led approaching last, ran on flat, won at Fakenham 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gf in Jan beating Alfhala by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Miniballist (IRE) 3-1fav Held up, headway approaching 7th, weakened next, 9th of 14, 30l behind White Dove at Hereford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Jan.
Opera Hall 15-2 In touch, raced wide, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 4th of 10, 20l behind La Perrotine at Sedgefield 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Up At Midnight 15-2 Led until 3rd, chased winner, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 14, 32l behind Inch Pride at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Royal Niece (IRE) 6-1 Held up, headway and inside approaching 4th, one pace when went 2nd last, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Fairly Smart at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl (F) hvy in Jan.
Ellway Prospect 14-1 In rear, behind from 6th, 9th of 14, well behind Celtic Son at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gs in Jan.
Zaffre (IRE) 50-1 Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden and outpaced 5th, plugged on, 6th of 14, 33l behind The Market Man at Kempton 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Nov.