Racecards
14:55 Market Rasen
Victor Lucas Memorial Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 2F3123-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders, left in lead 10th, clear 3 out, eased flat, comfortably
Bobby Gee
245- Form 21/0376-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Mrs P Robeson
- Jockey S P Jones
tracked leader, led 2nd to 5th, remained in touch, led again 9th until blundered and unseated rider next
Calin Royal (FR)
328- Form 66F2/1F-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey D C Costello
tracked leaders, effort 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, 4th and beaten when mistake next, pulled up before 2 out
Circus of Dreams
191- Form 31403-6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey G Lee
held up in rear, struggling 9th, soon ridden, pulled up before 3 out
- Form P1155-3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
led, mistake and headed 2nd, led again 5th, headed 9th, ridden next, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 532-531
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer H Hogarth
- Jockey P Kinsella
held up, mistake 5th, effort 4 out, went second approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
In depth
Verdict
Oliver Sherwood is enjoying a purple patch and CIRCUS OF DREAMS can provide him with another winner; Bench Warrent and Calin Royal rate as the main dangers. The selection will relish the juice in the ground today and that could be the key to his chance as his best form has been on a softer surface. He is making his seasonal return here so his fitness must be taken on trust but he could rate as the value call. The ground will not be a problem either for Bench Warrent and he is entitled to give our selection a race. Charlie Mann's 6-year-old was far from disgraced when last seen out at Cheltenham back in April and he looks primed for a good season over fences. Calin Royal has shown all his best form on testing ground and he can go well, but his jumping does sometimes let him down so he does come with an element of risk. Kilvergan Boy looked in need of the run at Exeter last month and he is another to consider, but the vote goes to Circus Of Dreams.
Formwatch
Bench Warrent (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, soon prominent, every chance when hit 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 17, 13l behind Picture This (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Bobby Gee 4-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, driven and weakened 2 out, 6th of 12, 39l behind Magical Legend (11-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Calin Royal (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, ridden and in 4th going to 3 out, rallying and about 5 lengths down when in 4th and fell last, in a race won by Moscow Catch (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Circus of Dreams 10-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, 6th of 10, 36l behind Toshi (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Not always fluent, held up behind leaders, weakened after 14th, left poor 3rd, hampered 2 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Hunters Ploy (11-4) at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Pamak D'airy (FR) Evensfav (11-3) Tracked leaders, led 11th, clear from 4 out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct beating Border Reiver (11-3) by 36l, 4 ran.