Racecards
16:20 Newbury
Vc Casino.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £7,200 added
- Form 06331P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
- Form 1B1432
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
Stoop To Conquer
378- Form FP/525-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
raced wide, held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, never a factor
- Form 5P4625
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again approaching last
- Form 20/564
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led until headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly 2 out
- Form 42-72P3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, strong challenge under pressure flat, stayed on gamely to lead near finish
- Form R-994
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led soon after 3 out, hard driven flat, headed near finish
- Form 1684
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T J Malone
always in rear, tailed off 3 out
- Form 59-656P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon outpaced
Raydan (IRE)
29- Form 446
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D R Gandolfo
- Jockey B Fenton
prominent until ridden and weakened after 4 out
- Form 2541
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 107
always behind
- Form 0P592
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M G Rimell
- Jockey J M Maguire
always towards rear, tailed off 3 out
Strider
18- Form 906
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D O'Brien
- Jockey M Batchelor
never reached beyond mid-division
- Form P/P-3P8B
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
soon ridden in rear, stayed on from 2 out, never reached leaders
- Form 594/377-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey Tony Evans
in touch, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
In depth
Verdict
An open handicap can go the way of Kick And Prance, with Swift Sailor and La Grande Villez just two for the shortlist. The selection knuckled down well to win on his handicap debut at Fontwell in January and should go well today despite a 7lb rise in the weights. The stable are not in amazing form, but with ground to suit and promising claimer Daryl Jacob aboard, he gets the tentative vote. Gary Moore has his stable in good form and he is represented here by Swift Sailor. Dropping back in trip today may do the trick and he rates a live danger, as does Amir El Jabal who hasn't shown a lot so far but makes his handicap debut today. La Grande Villez will have to forget his poor last run but with his trainer in better form he should be monitored in the betting, however for the winner we will tentatively return to Kick And Prance.
Formwatch
La Grande Villez (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Nikola (11-7) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Swift Sailor 7-4fav (10-7) Held up, headway 8th, led approaching 2 out, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Isle de Maurice (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Stoop To Conquer 3-1 (11-3) Jumped right and mistakes, led after 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 7, well behind Triple Mint (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb '06.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Mid-division, good headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 20l behind Kick And Prance (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Perfect Storm 8-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 13, 15l behind Kanad (11-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Jan.
Strawberry (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and chased winner 2 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Karello Bay (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Illicit Spirit (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 15, 16l behind Tarotino (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Amir El Jabal (FR) 80-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, kept on, 4th of 16, well behind Laustra Bad (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
It Happened Out (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) In rear, behind when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Milan Deux Mille (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Raydan (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, beaten approaching 3 out, 6th of 16, well behind Laustra Bad (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Kick And Prance 5-1 (10-6) In touch, headway 5th, hampered 6th, led 3 out, hit last, all out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Garrulous (11-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, headway 3 out, every chance next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 19, 12l behind Nike Walker (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Strider 100-1 (11-3) Towards rear, ridden from 5th, one pace, 6th of 10, 22l behind Safari Adventures (11-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Riders Revenge (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) In touch, lost place 3rd, in rear when brought down 4 out in race won by Star Double (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Photographer (USA) 100-1 (10-12) Chased leader, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 14, 18l behind Natal (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (C) gd in Dec '05.