Racecards
13:45 Leicester
Somerby Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy
- Form 5123
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey R Johnson
led, clear after 3rd, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat
- Form 541
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
tracked leader until approaching 5th, ridden and weakened well before next
- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey T Scudamore
in touch, not fluent 1st, headway when not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
- Form 524660
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S A Brookshaw
- Jockey J M Maguire
always behind, tailed off approaching 5th
Calamint
29- Form 00
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey D Flavin
in touch and keen, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B Curley
- Jockey Mr Brian Murphy
held up, some headway approaching 5th, soon beaten
- Form PP0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
always behind, tailed off after 4th
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
Van de Velde
21- Form 00
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Wilman
- Jockey L Fletcher
prominent, lost place approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
- Form 32
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, joined leader 3 out, ridden to lead after next, not fluent last, driven out
- Form 00
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G Brown
- Jockey Mr James Davies
in touch, ridden and lost touch approaching 3 out
- Form P6
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey C Rafter
prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, mistake 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Barney Curley's Muskatsturm, a Group 3 winner on the flat in Germany, only claimed a distant second behind Mughas (winner since) at Warwick on his British hurdling debut thanks to the falls of Prince Dimitri and Saratov. While there may be improvement to come for that experience, especially with the application of blinkers that he wore on the flat, the son of Lecroix needs to improve on his first effort to take a hand here. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Lewis Island arguably has the best form on offer having made all to beat Moneytrain (winner since) at Leicester in December and, although running well in two subsequent defeats at Chepstow and Warwick, he may again struggle under the penalty for that earlier win. Chepstow claiming hurdle winner Robbie Can Can and Vigoureux, successful in France but without a start in this country for new connections, also have to concede weight all round and may not be up to the task. Red Wine is an interesting debutante from the stable of Jamie Osborne. The son of Hamas ended the last Flat racing season in good form with a hat-trick of handicap successes over trips from 1m2f to 1m4f at Bath and Doncaster (twice), latterly in the November Handicap. If fit enough after a three month break and, if taking to hurdles, he could go close. The selection though is Martin Pipe's Visibility. A winner on the flat for Andre Fabre in France, the son of Linamix ran a promising race on his British debut when beaten just a length-and-a-half and two lengths behind Tramantanoo and Nas Na Riogh. A subsequent second to the Philip Hobbs-trained Andy Gin may prove to be better form than was first thought and, in receipt of weight, he looks worth a chance.