Racecards
13:30 Kempton Park
williamhill.com Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Winner: £5,848
- 2nd: £1,717
- 3rd: £859
- 4th: £429
- Form 1U/UP1-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey R Mahon
raced wide, held up in last trio but in touch, headway to chase leaders 7th, every chance 3 out, ridden in modest 4th soon after and soon beaten, poor 5th when blundered 2 out, eased, tailed off
- Form P1-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
held up in rear but in touch, good headway approaching 4 out, led soon after 3 out, pushed 3 lengths clear 2 out, drew further clear soon after, stayed on strongly, eased close home
- Form 1210-12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alex Merriam
chased leaders until lost place 7th, ridden next, rallied to modest 4th and hit 2 out, kept on flat
- Form 1-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey D C Costello
chased leader, dived at 2nd, lost 2nd 8th, weakened before next, soon eased, tailed off
- Form 14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey M Goldstein
led, ridden and headed 4 out, led again briefly under pressure before next, chased leading pair but no impression from after 3 out,
- Form 110-35U
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in last trio but in touch, blundered 3rd, not fluent next, headway to chase leaders 7th, led briefly approaching 3 out, chased winner soon after, 3 lengths down and ridden when mistake 2 out, kept on flat, always held
- Form P/1-27
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
tracked leaders on inside, ridden 7th, hit next, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off
- Form 3F1-52
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey Tom Cannon
chased leading pair, went 2nd 8th, led 4 out until approaching next, soon weakened, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
BUCK'S BOND was easy to back on his hurdling debut but shrugged off the negative vibes to beat Alberobello by a neck. The runner-up has franked the form since and Paul Nicholls' winning pointer can double his tally under Rules with Ryan Mahon taking off a valuable 3lb. Cloudy Copper has also won between the flags before making a winning start over hurdles at Exeter and should improve further but Kayserberg probably has the better form, having run well under a penalty at Doncaster last time. Chaser Hold On Julio may be having a confidence-booster but stay well and Westaway was only beaten half-a-length at Ascot three weeks ago and should be winning soon.
Formwatch
Buck's Bond (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Raced wide in touch, headway approaching 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, idled flat, just held on, won at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Alberobello (10-12) by nk, 13 ran.
Cloudy Copper (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders in 5th, smooth headway to 2nd approaching 3 out, led 3 out, in command before last, came clear flat, easily, won at Exeter 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Provo (11-5) by 5l, 13 ran.
Kaysersberg (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 4th, led and mistake 4 out, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, rallied after last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Midnight Oscar (10-12) at Doncaster 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Atriptomilan (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 5th, ridden 4 out, struggling in modest 5th when swished tail under pressure after 2 out, 5th of 11, 21l behind Sammys Gone (10-12) at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Dunloughin (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked winner, reminders 4th (usual 8th,) ridden next, outpaced last (usual 3 out,) kept on, 4th of 6, 11l behind Ace Fighter Pilot (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Hold On Julio (IRE) 9-4fav (10-11) Tracked leading duo, blundered and dropped to 4th at 9th, reminder and went 3rd soon after, ridden and 2 lengths 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Wyck Hill (10-0) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Portrait Emotion (IRE) 2-1 (10-9) Led and disputed, headed 7th, chased winner, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened quickly, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Minella For Steak (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Westaway (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, stayed on strongly after last to go 3rd close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Ballytober (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (3) hvy in Dec.