Racecards
13:05 Newbury
Toteplacepot Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
prominent, led 5th, hit 2 out on last, stayed on well, ridden out
- Form 1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, headway after 5th, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
- Form 55
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer C Llewellyn
- Jockey Paul Moloney
chased leaders, hit 5th, soon weakened
- Form 96P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
mistake and unseated rider 1st
Chouxdamour (FR)
323- Form 0-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
hit 5th, always behind
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders, ridden to chase winner when hit 2 out, kept on same pace
Pressgang
15- Form 12/3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey D Elsworth
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace
- Form 9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up towards rear, hit 4th, ridden and some headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
mid-division, headway after 5th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on
- Form 7/51-75
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey T J Dreaper
mid-division, ridden after 5th, kept on same pace from 3 out
- Form 7
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Durack
mid-division, blundered 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Davies
held up towards rear, hit 4th, ridden and some progress approaching 3 out, no further impression from 2 out
Lupanar (IRE)
144- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, not reach winner
Noticeable (IRE)
110- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway after 5th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
led until 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, gradually faded
In depth
Verdict
Zebra Crossing appeals more than the giant Pacso but with doubts about his ability to handle cut we'll take the pair on with Pressgang. Others to consider include Cutting Crew who is well entered up, Gary Moore's pair and Scriptwriter but the aforementioned trio boast solid credentials. Pasco ground out victory over course and distance last time but the bare form isn't anything special and he may need more time to grow into his frame. Zebra Crossing was a high class performer on the Flat in South Africa and produced a game display to beat Theatrical Moment at Kempton. The pair pulled a long way clear of the remainder and Zebra Crossing is a potentially high class recruit. There had been rain at Kempton but the going was officially described as good and the gelding has only once raced on ground with soft in the description. Therefore, we'll side with Pressgang who was only beaten in a photo in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2006. He's in receipt of weight and can be expected to improve for both the run and the experience of his return over course and distance so Pressgang gets the nod.
Formwatch
Pasco (SWI) 13-8fav (11-0) In touch, headway after 5th, led soon after 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, pushed out, won at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Winter Sport (11-0) by 3l, 18 ran.
Zebra Crossing (SAF) 9-4 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, driven flat, hung badly right towards finish, held on, won at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Theatrical Moment (10-12) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Can't Buy A Thrill (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 15, 26l behind Souriceau (10-7) at Folkestone 2m 1f mdn hdl (5) hvy in Jan.
Castlemaine Vic (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Held up, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Superior Wisdom (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Chouxdamour (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 5f out, soon lost place, 16th of 18, 33l behind Whiteoak (10-5) at Newbury 1m 4f 4yo nhf (5) gs in Mar.
Cutting Crew (USA) 7-2 (9-7) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied when short of room well inside final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 8, nk behind Greek Envoy (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct (Flat).
Hoof It Harry (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Held up and keen, headway 5 out, one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 9, 6l behind Outlandish (11-11) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) pol in Nov.
Knightswood (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Prominent, weakened 5f out, dismounted when pulled up in race won by Covert Mission (10-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Apr, 15 ran.
Pressgang 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge after 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Crescent Island (11-4) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Prince du Beury (FR) 66-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, well behind Khyber Kim (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Scriptwriter (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakening when blundered last, 4th of 16, 7l behind Greenbelt (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Supreme Builder 5-1 (10-12) Raced keenly in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 16, 28l behind Bold Ransom (10-7) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Tancredi (SWE) 100-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, weakened before 6th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Sole Agent (11-2) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan '06, 13 ran.
Histoire De Moeurs (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Always behind, 7th of 9, well behind Chomba Womba (11-5) at Doncaster 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan.
Kerriemuir Lass (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 10th of 15, well behind Halla San (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 17-10fav (8-5) Chased winner, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Denango (8-3) at Baden-Baden 1m 6f hcp gd in Sept (Flat).
Lupanar (IRE) (8-13) Led to halfway, unable to quicken straight, 7th of 9, 7l behind Berenice Pancrisia (9-1) at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f gd in Sept (Flat).
Noticeable (IRE) 6-1 (8-8) Held up, ridden over 1f out, no progress, last of 6, 7l behind Furmigadelagiusta (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Oct (Flat).
Boogie Dancer 20-1 (9-9) Led, hit 4th, clear next, ridden after last, caught near finish, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Iroquois Warrior (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
El Zorro 9-1 (10-12) Always prominent, ridden 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, soon hung left, led flat, just held on, won at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Omme Antique (11-0) by a shd, 15 ran.