Racecards
14:00 Leicester
Holly Handicap Chase (Class D)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 212-2F9
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 123
soon behind and ridden, headway after 8th, weakened 11th
- Form 2118-FU
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Christian Williams
with leader, led 9th to 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 0/35-4P1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, hampered and rider lost iron 1st, pecked 2nd, headway 9th, mistake 10th, ridden approaching last, ran on to lead close home
- Form 315-P36
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey T J Dreaper
mid-division, headway 7th, led after 4 out, ridden approaching last, headed close home
- Form 132P5-P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, lost place after 8th, headway approaching 12th, every chance 3 out to approaching last, weakened flat
- Form 2321F-4
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, disputing close 4th when fell 3 out
Lord Seamus
300- Form F3/133P-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
led to 9th, led again 10th to after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 5563P-5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 108
mistake 1st, always behind, no chance when mistake 4 out
- Form P1/P-U12
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mid-division, headway 12th, hit 14th, close 6th when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
- Form P08/473
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey P Merrigan
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 821581
- Age 13
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J R Cornwall
- Jockey M Nicolls
in touch to 11th, soon behind
- Form 21426/P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey S Thomas
Nonrunner
- Form PF2-112
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer A Hollingsworth
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
A 4lb rise for Millenaire's easy Folkestone win last month looks unlikely to stop him and we take him to follow up, with Gallik Dawn, Kosmos Bleu and Bay Island others to consider. Jonjo O'Neill-trained Millenaire has won on both fast and heavy ground, though he is unproven on today's soft side of good. Provided he handles that, he can take the step up in trip in his stride and stay ahead of the handicapper with another success. Gallik Dawn is a thorough stayer who loves decent ground. If further rains come then his chance would be impaired, whilst he also looked in the grip of the handicapper last time and has an absence to overcome, so we will oppose. Kosmos Bleu is interesting and did not put in a bad effort on his reappearance before tiring. He can be competitive off this mark and handles some cut, so an improved showing is anticipated. Mark Pitman's Bay Island races from 1lb wrong here, but as a course and distance winner with conditions to suit he can't be discounted. A 2lb rise for a Towcester defeat last time won't improve his claims, but he should be thereabouts. However, Millenaire left a good impression last time and can follow up.
Formwatch
Harrycone Lewis 12-1 (11-1) With leaders, mistake 1st, led 3rd to 7th, mistake 10th, weakened next, 9th of 10, well behind Run For Paddy (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct.
Farlington 20-1 (11-12) Behind when hampered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Soeur Fontenail (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Millenaire (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led next, in command between last 2, eased flat, won at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (D) gf in Nov beating Avitta (10-5) by 5l, 5 ran.
You're Special (USA) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until lost place 11th, 6th of 9, well behind Silver Knight (10-6) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Nov.
Yann's (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up last, reminder after 10th, behind when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Gumley Gale (11-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in May, 8 ran.
Kosmos Bleu (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 6th and lost place, mistake 10th, headway after 11th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 24l behind Major Euro (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov.
Lord Seamus 4-1 (11-12) Led, headed 8th, ridden and soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Even More (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Feb, 8 ran.
King Georges (FR) 18-1 (10-12) Chased leader to 4th, ridden 10th, lost place next, 5th of 8, 26l behind Wicked Nice Fella (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (D) gs in Nov.
Bay Island (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Held up, headway 6 out, chased winner from 11th, ridden and every chance approaching last, ran on to have every chance close home, no extra, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Never Awol (9-13) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.
One Day (NZ) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, reminders after 3rd, headway 9th, ridden to chase winner after 4 out to 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Young Lorcan (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Strong Magic (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Held up, headway 11th, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led after last, ran on, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Nov beating Jacdor (11-0) by 7l, 7 ran.
Supreme Catch (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, lost touch 9th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Native Ivy (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) sft in Nov '04, 10 ran.
Gallik Dawn 2-1fav (11-13) Held up, headway 13th, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Merry Path (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in May.
Tipsy Mouse (IRE) 28-1 (9-11) Always behind, 13th of 23, well behind Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.