Racecards
14:00 Newbury
Highcross Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 051
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey B C Byrnes
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division approaching 3 out, 6th and no chance when fell last
- Form 49
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leaders, went 3rd 4 out, weakened after next
- Form 46
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up and always towards rear
- Form B
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey W T Kennedy
in touch, staying on when hit last, kept on under pressure flat
- Form F5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up in mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression when hit last
- Form 9
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
keen hold, chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out and soon weakened
Patoma (IRE)
14- Form 56
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
raced wide, never reached beyond mid-division
Peacock (FR)
83- Form 8
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Tony Evans
led, blundered 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, kept on again flat
Rajeh (IRE)
153- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J L Spearing
- Jockey W Marston
took keen hold, held up in rear, never in contention
- Form 32
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, in command last, driven clear flat
In depth
Verdict
Mobaasher was good value for his debut success at Fontwell last month but Charlie Mann's gelding is far from certain to follow up under a penalty on ground that may be too testing and preference is for Signs of Love with Addicted rated the main danger. The selection has shown promise on both starts over hurdles under similarly testing conditions and, in receipt of weight from the previous winners, Noel Chance's gelding looks worth another chance today. Irish raider Prince Picasso clearly handles cut in the ground but may like Mobaasher struggle under his penalty. Leonardo's Friend has given little cause of optimism so far, while Mon Michel is hard to recommend on recent evidence. A bigger threat is likely to come from Nicky Henderson's lightly raced Addicted, who is probably better than he showed at Kempton last time but Signs of Love has solid claims and he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Prince Picasso 7-4fav (10-12) Held up, closed on leader 3 out, led travelling best approaching last, joined early run-in, ridden to assert close home, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb beating Hidden Agent (11-10) by 2l, 16 ran.
Addicted (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened 3 out, 9th of 13, well behind Poquelin (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec.
Black Cloud Cloudings gelding, half-brother to 5f-7f winner Czar Wars.
Leonardo's Friend 33-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, last of 6, well behind Malakiya (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Lit Et Mixe (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Hampered and brought down in race won by At The Money (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 10 ran.
Mon Michel (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, help up in last trio, ridden and beaten 3 out, no chance when hit next, 5th of 6, well behind Punjabi (11-2) at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Monte Major (GER) 40-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped badly right 2nd, never a factor, 9th of 14, well behind Altilhar (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Patoma (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up, hit 3rd, never reached challenging position, 6th of 7, 26l behind Paradi (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Peacock (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, hit 2nd, headway 6th, hampered 2 out, no further impression, 8th of 12, 38l behind Katchit (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Rajeh (IRE) 15-2 (9-9) Mid-division, 8th after halfway, weakened quickly over 3f out, 11th of 17, 20l behind Kerdem (9-6) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp 0-100 sft in Sept (Flat).
Signs of Love (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Malakiya (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Mobaasher (USA) 9-4 (10-12) In touch, shaken up to lead soon after last, quickened and clear flat, comfortably, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Jimboreal (11-5) by 3l, 8 ran.