Racecards
13:10 Kempton Park
Stan James Feltham Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- £70,000 added
- Form 1111-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
never travelling and not fluent in rear, reminders 8th, struggling 4 out
- Form 43-3121
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mostly tracked leading pair, ridden and closed before 4 out, driven to challenge and jumped left 3 out, went 2nd before last, no impression
- Form P-11F22
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Tony Evans
jumped left, tracked leader, led 9th, headed 3 out, hit next, weakened into 3rd when blundered last
Ungaro (FR)
38- Form 4165-11
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up in touch, headway to track leaders and hit 13th, led 3 out, kept on strongly, driven right out
Yes Sir (IRE)
127- Form 111111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey A P McCoy
jumped left, raced keenly, led, mistake and headed 9th, chased leader to 13th, under pressure approaching 4 out, soon weakened and finished tired
Bold Fire
19- Form 202-011
- Age 4
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
not fluent, in touch, dropped to rear 10th, struggling after 4 out, jumped left next 2, pulled up before last
- Form 14-5P14
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A terrific renewal of the Feltham can see Yes Sir extend his unbeaten record at the expense of According To John, Boychuk and Ungaro. Peter Bowen did have Yes Sir entered for the King George later on the card, but has wisely decided to take on the novices instead with his prolific seven-year-old who has been successful on each of his last seven starts. He had no problems going right-handed when making all in the valuable Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July, and this exciting front-runner lines up fresh after a break since August. It should be some spectacle watching him sail over the Kempton fences, and he is sure to force his rivals into making mistakes if any try to take him on. According To John is still unbeaten after six outings under rules, but he would prefer the going more testing, and this is the big acid test for him. Boychuk has performed well at a high level since going chasing, and there was no fluke about his defeat of Gungado at Newbury last time. Conditions should be just about perfect for him, and he rates one of the main dangers. Ungaro is definitely going the right way and cannot be ruled out lightly either, but Yes Sir rates as a formidable opponent, and is taken to lead from start to finish.
Formwatch
According To John (IRE) 2-13fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway 11th, challenged 2 out, led flat, pushed clear, won at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs beating Crackadee (11-0) by 8l, 8 ran.
Boychuk (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, pushed along 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Newbury 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov beating Gungadu (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Knowhere (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leader, led 12th, ridden when hit 2 out, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Exotic Dancer (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Ungaro (FR) 15-8 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, led approaching last, pushed clear, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Nov beating Muhtenbar (11-6) by 8l, 5 ran.
Yes Sir (IRE) 2-5fav (11-8) Made all, clear from 11th, unchallenged, won at N Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Aug beating Amicelli (11-1) by 30l, 7 ran.
Bold Fire 8-13fav (10-2) Tracked leader, mistake 9th, led 11th, in command when left clear 2 out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gs beating Treaty Flyer (11-0) by 24l, 8 ran.
Aztec Warrior (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Led, went right and hit 11th, soon headed, prominent, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 7, 11l behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft.