Racecards
15:00 Leicester
Oak Novices' Handicap Chase (Class E)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form P25F41
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey Dave Crosse
held up in touch, headway 5th, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner
- Form 035335
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey P C O'Neill
chased leaders, led 3 out, clear last, pushed out
- Form 2356P5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J R Cornwall
- Jockey A Pogson
led, ridden, headed 3 out, kept on one pace
- Form 1-22P44
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer R Ford
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up in rear, blundered, unseated rider 4th
- Form 675264/
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
held up in touch, close 5th when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
- Form P23-4F2
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer M J M Evans
- Jockey L Stephens
with leader, not fluent 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakening when blundered 2 out, soon pulled up
In depth
Verdict
Cansalrun can make the most of the weight that she receives from Rookery Lad, with Super Dolphin and Call Me Jack needing to improve to figure. Robert Alner has already had a good start to the season, notably with Betfair Chase winner Kingscliff, and is sure to place Cansalrun to good effect before too long. Hopefully that will be today, as the six-year-old bids to go one better than when second to the in-form Miss Shakira here 10 days ago. She has yet to open her account since making her bumper debut in 2003, and to say that the trainer has been patient is a bit of an understatement, but she really did shape well 10 days ago over the course and distance, on what was only her third outing over fences. Although she would not want it any softer, there must be more improvement to come, and she gets the vote over Rookery Lad. The latter has topweight to overcome after beating little at Chepstow a fortnight ago and is worth opposing off a five-pound higher mark. Super Dolphin is basically selling class and makes no great appeal, while Call Me Jack has it to do with the selection on a line through Miss Shakira, as he was in receipt of lumps of weight when second to her at Hereford, whereas Cansalrun was asked to concede nearly a stone, so the Alner runner has to be the pick.
Formwatch
Rookery Lad 5-1 (11-6) Always prominent, chased leader from 2nd, led 8th, ridden 2 out, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs in Nov beating Afro Man (11-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Magico (NZ) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 21l behind Eau Pure (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gf in Nov.
Kercabellec (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Led 2nd, headed next, left in lead soon after 4th, headed and blundered 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 37l behind Amadeus (11-5) at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov.
Super Dolphin 7-2 (10-2) Led, hit 1st, hit and headed 4th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 16l behind Kalou (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Nov.
Spinaround 7-4fav (11-2) Held up, headway 7th, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 14, 19l behind Schoolhouse Walk (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (F) sft in Apr '04.
Call Me Jack (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Led 2nd to 8th, every chance when not much room 3 out, ridden, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Miss Shakira (11-12) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
Cansalrun (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Chased winner to 5th, went 2nd again 8th, ridden 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Miss Shakira (10-9) at Leicester 2m mrs nov chs (E) gf in Nov.