Racecards
13:30 Leicester
Chestnut Selling Hurdle (Class G)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- Form P0-P74P
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer A L Forbes
- Jockey T Burrows
keen, led approaching 2nd to approaching 3rd, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out
Bjorling
288- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M J Gingell
- Jockey Mr N Pearce
prominent, ridden approaching 5th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Blackthorn
20- Form 235-530
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 86
chased leaders, led approaching 3rd, clear 3 out, mistake last, ridden out
Gilded Ally
252- Form 00/0PFP-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
held up and keen, headway 3rd, weakened after 5th
- Form P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M J Gingell
- Jockey M Smith
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Makandy
10- Form 00P-455
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer R J Armson
- Jockey Mr R Armson
led to approaching 2nd, chased leaders, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on one pace
In depth
Verdict
In a race that lacks either quality or quantity what can only be a tentative vote goes to Blackthorn, who is marginally preferred to Blaise Wood and Makandy. The last mentioned has been soundly beaten in sellers in a three of his four starts over hurdles since graduating from bumpers and it is only the weakness of the opposition that gives him any sort of a chance in this company. Grumpyintmorning looks the pick of the two Gingell runners although that does not say much, while Lady Predominant has gone so rapidly downhill on the flat that she is not even plating class on the level now and only the most speculative of backers could support her in the belief that eight flights of hurdles may bring about improvement. Blaise Wood has at least won a race over timber, albeit a poor seller at Towcester last year and has given little sign of encouragement since then. The vote then goes to Blackthorn, who has run to a comparatively decent level of form and a reproduction of recent form should suffice in a desperate contest.
Formwatch
Blaise Wood (USA) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 8th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Jolly Boy (10-1) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
Bjorling 8-1 (8-2) Keen, tracked leader until over 4f out, weakened 3f out, 6th of 9, 23l behind Vrisaki (8-6) at Southwell 1m mdn clm (H5) fbs in Feb (Flat).
Blackthorn 20-1 (10-9) Mistake 2nd, always behind, 10th of 12, 45l behind Little Brave (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Nov.
Gilded Ally 100-1 (10-7) Always behind, mistake 3rd, tailed off next and pulled up 2 out in race won by Escompteur (12-0) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (E) hvy in Mar, 10 ran.
Grumpyintmorning 18-1 (10-9) Behind from 4th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Birdwatch (11-0) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (G) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Makandy 50-1 (10-7) Prominent, keen, led 2nd, clear to 5th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 16l behind Birdwatch (11-0) at Leicester 2m sll hdl (G) gs in Nov.
Lady Predominant 100-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride and towards rear, headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 14, 50l behind Yenaled (8-10) at Catterick 1m 4f app clm (6) gd in Oct (Flat).