Racecards
13:40 Leicester
Pertemps Development Conditionals' Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy (Chase - Good, Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Form 28-612
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
in touch, ridden and every chance from 2 out, stayed on flat
- Form 774513
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey J Halliday
pushed along throughout, chased leader, ridden to lead before 2 out, mistake last, stayed on
Alfloratta
193- Form P74-446
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer John R Upson
- Jockey Felix de Giles
raced wide mid-division, ridden 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up 2 out
Kayf Keel
60- Form 20-4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
held up towards rear, good headway 5th, ridden next, weakened approaching last
- Form 87PP
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey J Kington
in touch, ridden and lost place 4th, driven and some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer J Groucott
- Jockey Lee Edwards
led, ridden, headed before 2 out, weakened quickly
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
in touch, ridden and weakened before 3 out
- Form 5-33
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Paul Benson
prominent, blundered badly 5th and lost place, not a danger after
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Jack Doyle
held up, good headway 5th, jumped right 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, hung right, mistake last, stayed on same pace
In depth
Verdict
This can go to Castlecross, who makes more appeal than Overbranch and hurdling debutantes Romping Home and Spring Dream. A case can also be made for Kayf Keel, who will be having only her second start over timber. But she will need to have come on a bundle in the intervening 60 days since she last raced, as her jumping was quite erratic when she finished a close up fourth at Bangor. Spring Dream has followed Katchit's path in joining Alan King from Mick Channon's yard, so has to be respected. However, she has to be marked down a doubtful stayer, judging by her form on the Flat. So she is best watched onthis occasion. Romping Home has shown ability in bumpers and has a race within her if she can be campaigned to good effect by Donald McCain. Her ability to jump has to be taken on trust, though. And she is also best noted this time around. Overbranch is being kept busy and rates as the best alternative to the selection. Still, she may find this ground a bit more testing than she cares for and needs everything to go her way. Therefore, we turn to Castlecross, who has the proven stamina for the task in hand and, despite a 7lb penalty for winning a novice event at Towcester, she is fancied to take the beating today.
Formwatch
Castlecrossings (IRE) Evensfav (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway from 7th, chased winner after 3 out, soon no impression, 2nd of 14, 16l behind It's A Discovery (10-10) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Overbranch 9-1 (11-12) Always prominent, led before 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Thehonourablelady (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Alfloratta 3-1 (11-7) Lost plce 6; rallied 11; wknd app 2 out, 6th of 12, well behind Edie Mccredie (11-7) at Dingley 3m ptp gd in Jun.
Kayf Keel 33-1 (10-5) Not always fluent, raced keenly, held up, headway from 3 out, stayed on same pace, not trouble leaders, 4th of 10, 5l behind Nez Rouge (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Monty's Panesar (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Led until after 6th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by It's A Discovery (10-10) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Omega King (FR) (9-12) 10th of 14, 20l behind Onnix (10-1) at Longchamp 1m 4f stk gs in Sept (Flat).
Penny Glitters 50-1 (8-2) Behind, ridden over 2f out, no progress, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 9l behind Jools (8-11) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov (Flat).
Rockmoor Pond (IRE) Fraam mare out of a moderate racemare.
Romping Home (IRE) 2-1fav (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway halfway, soon chasing leaders, every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Blackpool Billy (10-11) at Towcester 2m nhf (4) sft in Nov.
Spring Dream (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, under pressure over 3f out, soon beaten, 11th of 12, 40l behind Dhehdaah (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Jun (Flat).
Heaven Can Wait (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Towards rear, no impression under pressure straight, 10th of 14, 17l behind Idle Journey (8-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 0-60 pol in Nov (Flat).