Racecards
16:05 Newbury
Curzon Partnership 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Soft
- Form 5-00B
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J Portman
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, stayed on to dispute moderate 2nd at last, no chance with winner
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
prominent until lost place 6th, behind when blundered 8th, pulled up before 4 out
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
behind, blundered 8th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 31-50
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
behind, ridden from 7th, tailed off from next
- Form 3-05
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R Flavin
held up, good headway 8th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, unchallenged
- Form 3-06
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
disputed lead, definite advantage from 7th, ridden approaching 4 out, headed next, weakened after 2 out
- Form 01-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
keen hold and prominent, narrow lead 8th, headed before 3 out, left poor 2nd and mistake 2 out
Tacin (IRE)
33- Form 42-13
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R Johnson
prominent, challenged from 4 out, chasing winner but well held when mistake and fell 2 out
- Form 006
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey B Hitchcott
disputed lead to 7th, mistake and weakened quickly next next, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Tacin's third to Fork Lightning on his debut was promising, and Diamond Monroe was well behind him that day. Stack The Pack won a Newton Abbot bumper but was well beaten on his hurdling debut. Knowhow is likely to be suited by this kind of trip and showed promise when third on his bumper debut last season. Grayslake showed some promise last time but, overall, looks to have a bit to find. Fern Lord has shown little so far. Brewster won a Sligo bumper last season and has been placed in his three British hurdle runs to date, the most recent being a second to the talented but ill-fated Bolt Action at Chepstow on heavy (Ask For Luck was well behind him that day). Rodalko's win came at Ludlow on good going, after which he ran respectably to finish fourth to Calling Brave at this track. He ran badly last time on soft going when upped in trip. In summary, there are only a few who can be given a serious chance on what we know and Brewster, although he is untried on ground other than soft, gets the vote with a useful claimer taking five pounds off his back. The obvious dangers are Tacin, Rodalko and, possibly Knowhow.