Racecards
13:30 Leicester
Nomad Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
Optimaite
40- Form 241
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
led, headed approaching 3rd, stayed prominent until ridden and weakened 3 out
Chater Flair
395- Form 2/U20-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey Gary Richards
in touch when mistake and fell 3rd
Dr Raj
240- Form 0-0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer B McMahon
- Jockey Miss S Phizacklea
held up and keen, tracked leader, stayed in touch until ridden after 5th, weakened soon after, pulled up before 2 out
Frontier
15- Form 4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey O McPhail
mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden to chased winner soon after 3 out, every chance 2 out, soon weakened
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
held up mid-division, driven 4th and some headway, ridden and stayed on from 3 out, no chance with winner
- Form 40/P-6
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey S Thomas
in touch, headway approaching 6th, ridden and weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey Dave Crosse
behind throughout, pulled up before 3 out
Oh Vlo (FR)
81- Form 0-4643
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
- Form P0PP/20
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
in touch, lost place on bend after 2nd, soon behind and pulled up after 3rd
Salhood
14- Form 20-102
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey R Thornton
prominent, narrow leader 3rd, challenged 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out and hit, clear approaching last, comfortable
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
held up rear, some headway after 5th, weakening when hit 2 out
Sono
18- Form 533
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P D Niven
- Jockey A Thornton
in touch, driven approaching 3 out, faded
- Form PP/0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
towards rear, ridden after 5th, soon one pace
Zigali
31- Form PU
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer John Harris
- Jockey A Pogson
behind, pulled up 3 out
- Form 4P0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Keane
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, soon behind
- Form 235
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, ridden to chase leaders after 5th, mistake 3 out, one pace and hit last
In depth
Verdict
The form of Optimate's fourth in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last November sets the standard here and Rod Millman's charge is the one they will all have to beat here. The list of dangers includes: The French-bred Oh Vlo, Salhood and Charter Flair, who are all open to improvement in this sphere. Whereas Pilgrim's Progress has a little to prove after in the first time head-gear after disappointing last time. Another to consider is Jonjo O'Neill's representative and a keen eye should be focused on the market for signs of confidence behind Global Challenge, who was just short of Listed class on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute but obviously didn't progress as desired after winning a conditions event at Newmarket and now finds himself switching codes in a bid to revive his career. His well documented leg problems (fractured cannon bone) are now a thing of the past and hopefully O'Neill can place him to good effect in the near future. However, the likelihood is that he will need this experience and he is passed over in favour of Optimate today. The selection has improved with each run over hurdles and shaped as if there was plenty more to come when registering a comprehensive victory over course and distance last month. Optimate was also very useful on the Flat and has already proved that he has retained the necessary turn of foot required to quicken at the end of two miles on rain softened ground.