Racecards
14:30 Leicester
Visit racingtv.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 113y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £6,535
- 2nd: £3,011
- 3rd: £1,505
- 4th: £754
- Form 778-U5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
in rear, pushed along and some headway 3 out, kept on same pace
- Form 6105/
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M R Bosley
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
led and soon clear, reduced lead 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat
- Form UP4-26
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer L Morgan
- Jockey Adam Wedge
tracked clear leading pair, closed 3 out, ridden and every chance next, kept on one pace
- Form 16-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer L Morgan
- Jockey R P McLernon
tracked clear leader and clear of chasing group, pecked on landing 4 out, weakened soon after next, tailed off
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in rear, headway 2 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, headed towards finish
- Form 96-30
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer H Chisman
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
in touch, ridden and weakened 2 out
Zabeel Champion
101- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
in touch, headway 3 out, led next, headed narrowly last, ridden and rallied to lead again towards finish
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A smart handicapper on the Flat when winning six times for Mark Johnston, ZABEEL CHAMPION debuts for new connections. He should have the measure of these if taking to the obstacles and is rated much higher on the level than Lydford. The latter is fitted with a tongue-tie on his first start for a new yard having also undergone wind surgery while First Angel has placed in a bumper and will have benefitted for last month’s debut over timber at Wetherby. Drunken Pirate has won a bumper but hasn’t raced since 2019.
Formwatch
Blended Stealth 20-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake and ride lost iron briefly 3rd, not fluent and some headway 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Believe Jack (10-12) at Hereford 2m (4) gd in Nov.
Drunken Pirate 10-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 4 out, 3rd travelling well before next, ridden and weakened next, 5th of 18, 19 1/4l behind Greaneteen (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
First Angel (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leader on outer, ridden 3 out, no impression when not fluent last, 6th of 13, 26l behind Harbour Lake (10-12) at Wetherby 2m (3) gs in Oct.
For Fitz Sake (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Pressed leader, ridden and almost upsides entering home straight, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 35 3/4l behind Mexico (11-2) at Catterick 2m (5) hvy in Feb.
Lydford 15-8fav (9-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden soon after, outpaced over 1f out, hung right and plugged on towards finish, 6th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Sword Beach (9-2) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Rockingham South 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, never showed, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Onemorefortheroad (11-8) at Stratford 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Zabeel Champion 7-2 (10-0) Led, headed 11f out, tracked leader until dropped to 4th over 3f out, ridden 2f out, slightly outpaced over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 11 1/4l behind Volcanic Sky (9-10) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Roger Rarebit 40-1 (10-10) Held up rear of mid-division, well beaten before 2 out, mistake last, 10th of 14, 20 1/4l behind Jetaway Joey (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.