Racecards
14:15 Musselburgh
John Smith's Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up in touch when pulled up lame after 3rd
- Form 351
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey L Heard
in touch, hit 2nd, driven and outpaced 4 out, headway next, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, not reach leaders
- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, no impression when blundered last
- Form 5320
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer D Thompson
- Jockey O Nelmes
tracked leader, driven and lost place approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last
- Form 262D
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
led, ridden 2 out, hit last, headed final 100 yards, kept on, just held
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway 4 out, 2nd next, ridden last, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, held on
In depth
Verdict
Dear Villez, Ortolan Bleu and Gidam Gidam look the three to concentrate on in this competitive affair and the vote is given to Dear Villez. The selection won well on his first run for the stable when beating Grasp. Granted this looks tougher but he looks sure to improve and he is taken to win this before going on to better things. Ortolan Bleu rates the main danger as he won well last time when beating Dan's Heir, but this is more competitive. However, that form does look rock solid and he should be noted in the market. Gidam Gidam is another that could go well as he beat Daldini last time, although that form has since been let down and he will need to improve to win this. My Immortal will make a bold bid to make all on this sharp track while Premier Dane is clearly thought capable of more than he showed on his debut. However in a race where the market should provide the clues, for the winner we return to Dear Villez.
Formwatch
Ortolan Bleu (FR) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up, headway 5th, led and not fluent 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) sft in Dec beating Dan's Heir (11-5) by 6l, 9 ran.
Dear Villez (FR) 10-11fav (11-2) Held up, headway 6th, led last, driven out, won at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Grasp (11-2) by 5l, 13 ran.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) In touch, led before 3rd, made rest, hit 2 out and last, stayed on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf in Dec beating Daldini (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 17 ran.
Best Game 25-1 (10-11) Led, headed after 3rd, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 50l behind Calfraz (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
My Immortal 11-8 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed when hit 2 out, jumped omitted last hurdle, disqualified, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Bayard (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jan. Later dsq to last.
Premier Dane (IRE) 4-5fav (10-7) Held up, headway 6th, led approaching last, headed and no extra run-in, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Estepona (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Jan.
Annals 250-1 (10-5) Mid-division, blundered 4th, mistake next, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Bayard (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jan, 13 ran.