Racecards
15:00 Leicester
Knighton Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good (G/Soft straight, one soft patch in the dip)
- Form PP0211
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey T Bailey
badly hampered and unseated rider 1st
Badrinath (IRE)
1081- Form 0/
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer H J Collingridge
- Jockey Brian Murphy
in touch, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4B
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Unett
- Jockey V Slattery
keen and not jumped well, led, carried wide bend after 2nd, headed 4th, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
soon pushed along in rear, never dangerous
- Form 2-01
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
in touch, jumped slowly 4th, ridden and every chance from 3 out, weakened last
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A Hales
- Jockey B J Crowley
held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
tracked leaders, every chance from 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, soon weakened
Optimaite
20- Form 24
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
prominent, led 4th, ridden clear approaching last, eased towards finish
- Form 404
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey J P McNamara
held up, headway 4th, ridden 2 out, stayed on flat, no chance with winner
In depth
Verdict
The Oliver Sherwood-trained Light des Mulottes gets the vote here ahead of Island Stream, Fairmorning, It's Music and possibly Musical Stage. After showing bumper promise in Ireland, the selection won at the first time of asking in this country when scoring over today's trip at Worcester. He'll stay further but might just be good enough to score at the first time of asking over hurdles for his in-form stable. Island Stream has kept on improving this year, winning at Uttoxeter and Sandown, on both occasions when ridden by today's claimer. Optimaite has won six times on the Flat at up to 12 furlongs and has shown promise in two hurdle starts to date, so is entitled to have his supporters. Badrinath has won six times on the Flat at up to 10 furlongs but the most-recent of these came in December 2001 and he lacks a recent run. Fairmorning showed a good deal of promise on his hurdling debut before being brought down next time out. A drop in trip here from his debut effort should suit and he looks set to run well. From the Martin Pipe stable, the Accordion gelding It's Magic is bred for this game and any prominence in the betting should be taken as a positive indicator. Murdinga showed only moderate form in a light Flat career but could do better in this sphere, a similar comment applying to Irish import Musical Stage who will not lack for fitness. Mystery is another winner from Poland that Tom George has brought west, while the French import Labelthou showed little in her native land. It's an interesting affair, one in which we will side with Light des Mulottes.