Racecards
16:00 Leicester
Dick Saunders Novices' Hunters' Chase (Class 5)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £3,500 added
Balau
18- Form 11F/1-F1
- Age 9
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs A Hickman
- Jockey Mr P York
towards rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 326P-22
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer R Harvey
- Jockey Miss S Phizacklea
made most, headed 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 0075/U1-
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer C M Clarke
- Jockey Mr P Mason
chased leader, led 5th to 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 21-121P
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer A Hobbs
- Jockey Mr N H Oliver
mid-division, lost place 6th, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed towards finish
- Form 75511/2-
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer G J Tarry
- Jockey Mr T Ellis
in touch, every chance 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 7/0888-1
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer P H Hogarth
- Jockey Mr W Kinsey
held up, weakened from 2 out
- Form 1PP-PPP
- Age 6
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Ian Howe
- Jockey Mr W Telfer
held up in rear, ridden and weakened from 6th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form F62-35P
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer P J Millington
- Jockey Mr P J Millington
in touch, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form P0F00-5
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer James Young
- Jockey Mr D R Cook
held up towards rear, fell 9th
Springwood White
261- Form 214-PP9
- Age 14
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Mrs V Park
- Jockey Mr T Park
in touch, weakened approaching 9th
- Form UPUP/0-P
- Age 6
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Miss A S Frieze
- Jockey Miss Angharad Frieze
held up, ridden 6th, soon weakened
- Form 3421-3P
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Nick Kent
- Jockey Mr Nick Kent
chased leaders, pushed along 5th, weakened approaching 8th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1212-21
- Age 8
- Weight 12-0
- Trainer Mrs C J Robinson
- Jockey Mr R Burton
chased leaders, mistakes, led towards finish
In depth
Verdict
Whistling Straits, Balau and Mister Bloom make up the short-list for this contest with Whistling Straits earning the vote. The selection has shown a consistent level of form between the flags and won't lack for assistance on his debut under Rules with the experienced Richard Burton booked to do the steering. Balau is another making his Rules debut and also comes into this race in winning form having got the better of Gielgud at Detling at the end of the last month but he had fallen prior to that and his jumping has to be a concern this afternoon. Last but by no means least on the short-list comes Mister Bloom who failed to trouble the judge in ten starts in Ireland but this half-brother to War Of Attrition opened his account between the flags for his new connections last month and has to enter the equation. The market should prove informative but we'll take a chance with Whistling Straits.
Formwatch
Balau 5-1 (12-0) Trckd ldrs; led aft 4 out; drvn & stayed on wl, won at Detling 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Gielgud (12-0) by 16l, 13 ran.
Cash In Hand (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, mistake 6th, chasing winner when hit 4 out, soon no chance, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 24l behind Benrajah (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp hts chs (3) gd in May.
Cullen Road (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Made most frm 5; clr 3 out, won at Cottenham 3m ptp frm in Mar beating Albert House (12-0) by 20l, 10 ran.
Euryalus (IRE) 10-1 (12-4) Led aft 3-6 & 9-10; wknd 12; wl bhnd when pulled up in race won by Mister Banjo (12-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd, 11 ran.
Highland Vasco (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) Led app 2 out til drvn & hdd last, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Sure Future (12-5) at High Easter 3m ptp sft in Jan '07.
Mister Bloom (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Trckd ldrs; led 4 out; rdn clr flat, won at Weston Park 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Ben Ryan (12-0) by 8l, 7 ran.
Pagans Dancer 33-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd 13; t.o & pulled up in race won by Marblehead (12-0) at Chaddesley Corb' 3m ptp gd, 13 ran.
Present Moment (IRE) 20-1 (12-5) T.o & pulled up in race won by Lord Of Illusion (12-5) at Weston Park 3m ptp gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Quarry Road (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Held up; hdwy 15; wknd nxt, 5th of 11, 38l behind Senor Cid (12-0) at Chipley Park 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Springwood White 25-1 (11-7) Towards rear, ridden approaching 9th, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Alpine Warrior (11-11) at Cartmel 2m 5f mdn hts chs (6) gd in May.
Story Arms 25-1 (12-0) Hdwy 4; wknd 10; pulled up in race won by Sound Stage (11-7) at Larkhill 2m 4f ptp gd in Jan, 12 ran.
Vic's Last Chance (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) In rear, jumped slowly, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Be Fair (12-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd in May, 13 ran.
Whistling Straits (IRE) 9-4 (12-5) A.p; led last; r.o wl, won at Sheriff Hutton 3m ptp sft in Jan beating Glenelly Gale (12-5) by 6l, 9 ran.