Racecards
13:00 Kempton Park
Network Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class C)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 214
- Age 3
- Weight 11-4
in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd and mistake last, kept on flat, no chance with winner
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
close up, chased winner approaching 2 out until 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 4
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
in rear division, well behind when mistake last
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Jamie Poulton
- Jockey C Bolger
always behind, mistake 5th, tailed off before next
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
blundered 1st, in mid-division, effort after 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
chased leaders until weakened under pressure before 2 out
- Form FF0
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey Dave Crosse
always behind, tailed off before 3 out
- Form F
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey B J Crowley
took keen hold, mistake 1st, held up in touch, headway after 3 out, chased winner and mistake last, weakened flat
- Form 4
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Akehurst
- Jockey J Tizzard
in touch until weakened after 3 out
Tarque (IRE)
40- Form 02F2
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
soon tracked leader, led 3 out, mistake next, clear when hit last, driven out
Wages
35- Form 36
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Phelan
- Jockey M Bradburne
mistake 3rd and 5th, always towards rear
- Age 3
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey J Goldstein
prominent, pushed along from 4th, 7th and weakening when fell 2 out
- Age 3
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer C Down
- Jockey James Davies
in mid-division, mistake 2nd, weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 60D
- Age 3
- Weight 10-9
led to 3 out, stayed chasing winner until weakened before 2 out
In depth
Verdict
The ex-German After Eight sets the standard here but the Milton Harris-trained colt disappointed at Cheltenham last time and may be vulnerable here under a penalty so we take a chance with hurdling newcomer Tusk, who gets the verdict over Maharbal. The selection was a winner of a 1m2f handicap at Newmarket off a mark of 85 when last seen on the flat with Mick Channon and looks the type to do well over hurdles. Sure to have been well schooled by Henrietta Knight, he would not need to be anything out of the ordinary to take this on his first start over hurdles. Maharbal, a non-thoroughbred formerly trained in France, made a winning start for Nicky Henderson when landing a similar contest at Newbury earlier in the month but, along with After Eight, faces no easy task under his penalty. Late Claim had some decent form on the flat with Barry Hills and, along with bumper winner Oscars Vision, is another worthy of a mention. Francois Doumen has a good record here so Tarque has to be respected, as does Noel Chance's Lord of Beauty, who is probably better than he showed first time out but we are happy to side with Tusk.