Racecards
14:00 Market Rasen
Showsec Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
Amazing Request
172- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey C Poste
held up, headway 4th, went 3rd 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 23
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S W Hall
- Jockey Matt Crawley
chased leaders, blundered 5th, one pace from 2 out
- Form 689660
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey L Vickers
with leader, ridden and outpaced from 3 out
Fistral
40- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P D Niven
- Jockey P Buchanan
held up in rear, some headway 3 out, soon outpaced
Good Etiquette
294- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs S Lamyman
- Jockey P Kinsella
held up, behind from 4th, tailed off after 3 out
Maraafeq (USA)
227- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden 2 out, led and hit last, stayed on well
- Form 220
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 108
made most, ridden and headed when not fluent last, no extra
- Form 803-445
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey T J Dreaper
held up, outpaced from 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, took 3rd near finish
In depth
Verdict
Maraafeq is taken to make a winning debut over hurdles, possibly at the main expense of Start Royal and Pheidias. The selection is making his debut for Venetia Williams having won over ten furlongs in France; he also made the frame on his sole start over a mile and a half so shouldn't have any stamina issues and should also cope with underfoot conditions. The trainer's horses continue in good form and he's sure to have been well schooled. Book Of Facts has run two sound races but it would be no surprise if another ex-French horse in Start Royal and Pheidias proved bigger dangers. Ferdy Murphy's runner showed a decent level of form over hurdles in France but very little on debut for new connections at Kempton. The pick of his form would make him hard to beat but he has questions to answer for the time being. Pheidias was out of his depth at Newbury last time but ran well enough on his first two starts to suggest that he can pick up a race but on this occasion, Maraafeq is preferred.
Formwatch
Amazing Request 14-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten, 9th of 11, 30l behind Magicalmysterytour (9-9) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug (Flat).
Book of Facts (FR) 6-1 (10-0) Held up, went prominent 5th, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 5l behind The Grey Berry (10-7) at Southwell 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jan.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 200-1 (10-9) In touch, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, 14th of 18, 30l behind Songe (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Fistral 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders to 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 18, 31l behind Furmigadelagiusta (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Good Etiquette 300-1 (9-3) Behind final 4f, last of 8, 47l behind Ea (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 3yo mdn (5) gf in Apr (Flat).
Maraafeq (USA) (9-7) Raced in 2nd, challenged entering straight, kept on to line, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Falonso (8-8) at Lyon Parilly 1m 4f in Jun (Flat).
Pheidias (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Led to 5th, ridden and weakening when mistake 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Chance du Roy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Start Royal (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Beaten 7th, held up, ridden after 5th, soon beaten, 5th of 8, well behind Zanir (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.