Racecards
15:00 Kempton Park
European Breeders Fund Novices' Chase (Class D)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good
- Form 31416-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in touch, chased leaders from 12th, disputed lead 3 out, soon led, clear after next, eased flat,
- Form PP211/3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
disputed lead, led 3rd, strongly challenged from 16th, headed 3 out, weakened under pressure soon after
- Form 1F/6F-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
in rear, driven after 9th, lost touch from next, pulled up before 13th
- Form 4252F-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A Ennis
- Jockey L P Aspell
close up, driven and outpaced from 16th, kept on under pressure flat
Iris Royal (FR)
216- Form 231022-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
disputed lead to 3rd, slightly outpaced aftere 16th, disputed lead 3 out, soon headed, no chance with winner
- Form 3/134-F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
not jumped well in rear, well behind from 12th, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Iris Royal was a smart hurdler, who has proved effective from two-and-a-half to three miles, and on a course where his trainer has a good record, is taken to make a winning debut over fences. Bold Investor was rated nearly a stone below Iris Royal over hurdles, and has to concede five pounds here, but does at least have the advantage of having already won over fences. His four-length defeat of Mytimie at Carlisle was a fair performance but Iris Royal may just have too much class for him. Aberfoyle Lad, a winner between the flags, is held in some regard but was a big disappointment on his last start here, when he finished well behind Ibis Rochelais. The latter is a fair hurdler who hasn't quite taken to fences yet, a remark which also applies to Sterling Dot Com.