Racecards
15:35 Newbury
E.B.F. Mares' NH Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 6-13111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey R Thornton
jumped right throughout, chased winner, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 119826
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey R Stephens
mid-division, weakening when stumbled 2 out
- Form 13/2-61
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
held up in rear, headway after 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd run-in, not reach winner
Queen Soraya
30- Form 96-6133
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
held up in rear, smooth headway after 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
- Form F42637
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Mrs A J Bowlby
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
in touch, headway after 7th, ridden and mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
Diamond Sal
34- Form 251-221
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before last
Priscilla
19- Form 542
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer K Bishop
- Jockey J P McNamara
held up mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before last
- Form 434315
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey B Hitchcott
mid-division until 7th, soon behind
- Form 5-4F431
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
never fluent, mid-division, pecked 1st, headway and mistake 4 out, soon ridden, kept on
- Form F25451
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
made all, stayed oin gamely, ridden out
- Form 235/92P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division when pulled up approaching 4th
- Form 6-221P6
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey T Doyle
chased leader until 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 6-2P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey Jim Crowley
always towards rear, lost touch 7th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 1-3343
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey S Thomas
held up, some headway 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 798333
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey W McCarthy
in touch until 4 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Another wide-open contest here and there is very little between many of the leading fancies but the principals look to be Diamond Sal, Zaffaran Express, La Perrotine and Queen Soraya and the narrow verdict is given to Diamond Sal. The selection won well last time out when beating Pendle Forest and that form has since been franked. With this longer trip and faster ground sure to suit she will be hard to beat. Zaffaran Express rates the main danger as she also won well last time out when beating Gordon Highlander but this looks much tough and she will need to improve to score and at likely odds she looks worth opposing. La Perrotine is a stable companion of the selection and looks the second string on jockey bookings but she would be a danger to all if the ground became testing. Queen Soraya looks to be on a handy mark and could go well at a price but consistency is not her strong point and for that reason she is opposed. Of the remainder Pennyrose Bay is from a shrewd yard and looks to be on a handy mark so should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to Diamond Sal.
Formwatch
La Perrotine (FR) 4-5fav Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 3rd, drew clear approaching 2 out, ridden out flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (E) sft in Mar beating Nobodys Perfect by 4l, 7 ran.
Isellido (IRE) 20-1 Held up, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, one pace, 6th of 13, 5l behind Overserved at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs in Mar.
Early Start 7-2 Raced wide, mid-division, steady headway after 5th, led on bit last, easily, won at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Mar beating Stanwick Gypsy by 4l, 12 ran.
Queen Soraya 9-2 Led, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 18, 6l behind Medison at Ludlow 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Mar.
Lady Racquet (IRE) 50-1 Prominent, lost place approaching 2 out, soon no danger, 7th of 11, 8l behind Nanga Parbat at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Mar.
Diamond Sal 11-10fav Towards rear, smooth headway to lead approaching 2 out, drew clear flat, eased near finish, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nh nov hdl (D) gd in Feb beating Pendle Forest by 5l, 10 ran.
Priscilla 7-1 Led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, rallying when mistake last, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Latin Queen at Taunton 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gf in Mar.
Elfkirk (IRE) 11-4jt-fav Held up, mistake 5th, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly, 5th of 12, well behind Early Start at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Mar.
Zaffaran Express (IRE) 2-1 Chased leaders, led 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (E) gd in Mar beating Gordon Highlander by 10l, 14 ran.
Penneyrose Bay 11-4 Made all, hit 5th, jumped left last 2, drew clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (D) gs in Mar beating Purple Patch by 11l, 14 ran.
Foxchapel Queen (IRE) 11-4jt-fav Behind, headway, mistake 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Early Start at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Freydis (IRE) 9-2 Prominent, with leader 3rd, in touch until ridden and weakened 4 out, 6th of 12, 38l behind Simple Glory at Chepstow 3m nov hdl (E) gd in Mar.
Amber Starlight 15-2 Held up, headway after 7th, weakened quickly next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Theatre at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (E) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Harringay 11-4fav Held up towards rear, headway from 6th, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 13, 25l behind Reseda at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Ishka Baha (IRE) 6-1 Mid-division, good headway 7th, hit next, ridden to chase winner 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Tirikumba at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Mar.