Racecards
14:07 Leicester
Nucleus HR Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,500 added
- Winner: £3,322
- 2nd: £1,530
- 3rd: £765
- 4th: £383
- Form 411367/
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey C Brace
always towards rear
Sambezi (FR)
32- Form 12521-F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer O Signy
- Jockey Jack Andrews
prominent, led 5th, headed final bend, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon beaten
- Form 61165-8
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Luca Morgan
mid-division on inside, headway before 3 out, no impression 2 out
- Form 0PP85-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 119
chased leaders, led final bend, not fluent and headed 3 out, led before 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish
- Form 7133-13
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, 2nd 2 out, switched right and challenging when mistake last, driven and stayed on flat, led towards finish
Flann
266- Form 71280-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey Max Kendrick
in rear, not fluent 6th, soon pushed along, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
- Form 21055-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Cillin Leonard
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, blundered 3 out, no impression
- Form 36P/23P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer A Ralph
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
prominent, outpaced 3 out, no impression 2 out, kept on flat
Largy G (IRE)
211- Form 5/32-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Noel Williams
- Jockey J M Quinlan
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, headway 3 out, weakened next
Furkash (FR)
286- Form 3/318PP-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in mid-division, closed on outside after 4 out, outpaced next, kept on flat
- Form 21666-5
- Age 11
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
led, mistake 4th, headed next, lost place before 3 out
- Form 3-21134
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer P C Dando
- Jockey Conor Ring
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, 3rd and held before last, kept on
In depth
Verdict
Go Steady boasts a decent strike-rate over fences but he’s never really looked like winning over hurdles. A winner three times last season, APPLE ROCK is starting to look nicely treated again and will be all the better for a pipe-opener at Cheltenham. Beau Haze won off a higher mark at Ffos Las in May but handicap debutant Largy G might need the run. Game Socks was second when returning from a break at Ludlow, however, and Flann should find a race over hurdles this season.
Formwatch
Vinnie Dev (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 13, 21 3/4l behind Burrows Edge (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Sambezi (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Fell 1st, at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Apple Rock (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Midfield, pushed along before 3 out, ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 8th of 20, 17 1/4l behind Art Approval (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Nordano (GER) 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 3 out, soon pressed and pushed along before 2 out, headed 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, faded towards finish, 4th of 7, 7l behind Khan (10-1) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Go Steady 6-4fav (11-2) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 2 out, soon pushed along and one pace, no chance with winner, 3rd of 5, 12 1/2l behind Forecast (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in May.
Flann 9-1 (11-2) Held up behind leaders, lost place 5th, ridden after 4 out, well beaten 2 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Neon Moon (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Game Socks (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd on long run before 3 out, soon pushed along and led 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace no chance with winner, awkward last, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Ferrobin (11-10) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Florrie Knox (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Led until 6th, not fluent 7th, mistake and jumped right 8th, lost place before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Largy G (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, good jump 4th and into the rear of mid-division, ridden to chase front 2 after 2 out, disputing 3rd last, kept on strongly and made strong challenge for 2nd dying strides, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Dragon Bones (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (3) gd in May.
Furkash (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Close up, hit 10th, soon lost touch, pulled up 2 out, at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Trans Express (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Raced prominently, started to lose place after fourth, dropped to detached last 5 out, ridden and no response, finished tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Quinta Do Mar (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Beau Haze 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 3 out, 4th 2 out, not able to trouble leaders, 4th of 10, 11l behind Kenyan Cowboy (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Nov.