Racecards
15:35 Newbury
Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap) (Class 1)
- 24 Runners
- Distance: 2m 69y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £155,000 added
- Winner: £88,272
- 2nd: £33,124
- 3rd: £16,585
- 4th: £8,262
- Form 1119-31
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Mr Alex Ferguson
never better than mid-division, towards rear and struggling after 4 out, tailed off
- Form 41-7711
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
raced keenly, tracked leader, led 4th until approaching 3 out, chased leader until after 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 5/1U4-04
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up towards rear, steady headway on inside approaching 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, went 2nd before the last, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner
- Form 143-513
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey D N Russell
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, weakened before the last
- Form 11F6-20
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Ned Curtis
chased leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
- Form 2/2122-0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
always towards rear, tailed off
- Form U32221
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Harry Reed
chased leaders on outside, led approaching 3 out, slightly hampered by loose horse next, ridden and headed between last 2, lost modest 3rd last, weakened run-in
- Form 1/211P6-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
always towards rear, never on terms
- Form 1P21-12
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
led until 4th, chased leader until before 3 out, chased leaders, weakened between last 2
- Form 1-112
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer Miss A Murphy
- Jockey J M Quinlan
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 2nd and hit 2 out, led between last 2, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly
- Form 1341-68
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey B S Hughes
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
- Form 211/1-51
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out
- Form 1421-12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Bridget Andrews
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, went modest 3rd last
- Form 1141P-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey J McGrath
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and outpaced next, plugged on run-in
- Form P12-131
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, headway on inside approaching 3 out, weakening when mistake next, eased, tailed off
- Form 211-232
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer K Woollacott
- Jockey D A Jacob
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after
- Form 21/1221
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
in touch on inside, pushed along after 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
- Form 42/6114
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
mid-division, lost place 3rd, pulled up quickly before 6th
- Form 107-656
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
towards rear, steady headway before 2 out, weakened between last 2, hit last
- Form 112112
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer P Atkinson
- Jockey Henry Brooke
towards rear, blundered 2nd, tailed off 3 out, and pulled up soon after
- Form 2114-12
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mitchell Bastyan
chasing leaders when mistake and unseated rider 2nd
- Form 3113-60
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey James Best
always behind
- Form 22-5156
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
chased leaders, hit 3rd, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, plugging on when hit last, modest 4th towards finish
- Form 3-52421
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer O Greenall & J Guerriero
- Jockey Ross Turner
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders next, 6th and weakening when blundered last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
This valuable handicap tends to be dominated by five and six-year-olds who are still on an upward curve. Several fit the bill this year with Jenkins sharing top weight with High Bridge, another defending an unbeaten record around here. James Bowen’s mount has a penalty but is in peak form, though is only one of five entries for the champion trainer. Lough Derg Spirit is preferred to Verdana Blue of the other four, though others look better treated. The mare Irish Roe has already won four times this season but probably ran her best race in defeat in a Grade 2 at Doncaster two weeks ago. Misterton ran a cracking race in the Greatwood at Cheltenham in November when a pound out of the handicap while Lalor arrives with similar credentials to last year’s winner Ballyandy. He’s yet to score over hurdles but has shown bags of promise and the likely strong pace here will help him settle. Silver Streak and Willie Mullins’ Bleu Et Rouge both ran well in a Grade 3 at Ascot in December when sandwiching Verdana Blue and Lanzarote second Spiritofthegames should be staying on in the closing stages but KALASHNIKOV (NAP) should also give supporters a run for their money. After two impressive victories in novice company, he lost nothing in defeat in the Tolworth at Sandown when the heavy going blunted his speed. Amy Murphy’s charge is a strong traveller who is still very much unexposed.
Formwatch
High Bridge 9-4fav (11-10) Made all and set steady pace, quickened approaching 3 out, joined last, ridden and kept on gamely when strongly pressed run-in, on top towards finish, won at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec beating Charli Parcs (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Jenkins (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Raced wide, always prominent, 2nd before 7th, led 4 out, joined 2 out, stayed on gamely to assert run-in, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Air Horse One (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Bleu Et Rouge (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, smooth headway approaching 2 out, switched right before last, 4th and one pace run-in, 4th of 17, 6l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Verdana Blue (IRE) 5-1fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway on wide outside approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 17, 4 1/2l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Charli Parcs (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, weakened after 3 out, soon behind, 11th of 17, 14l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Divin Bere (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Keen in mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 14th of 17, 30 1/2l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Remiluc (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, mistake 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Huntsman Son (11-6) by 2l, 11 ran.
Moon Racer (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders on outside, niggled along after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, lost place 2 out, no extra, 6th of 9, 16 3/4l behind Pingshou (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Misterton 10-1 (10-0) Led after 1st, driven and headed briefly turning in, ridden after last, headed narrowly flat, kept on, just held, 2nd of 13, nk behind Elgin (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Kalashnikov (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Chased leading pair, pushed along on long run before 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd approaching the last, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Summerville Boy (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Project Bluebook (FR) 40-1 (10-6) Held behind, outpaced 2 out, kept on under pressure from last, never near leaders, 8th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Elgin (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Kayf Grace 11-4fav (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, led before 2 out, pressed from 2 out, joined last, pushed along to assert final 100 yards, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Eddiemaurice (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders after 3 out, led on outside before the last, narrowly headed last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind William Henry (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Lough Derg Spirit (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Led, keen, headed after 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3l behind London Prize (10-9) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Poppy Kay 15-8fav (11-0) Raced keenly, held up last, 3rd on outside travelling well before 2 out, 2nd 2 out, soon challenging, led narrowly approaching last, joined and driven run-in, stayed on to assert towards finish, won at Sandown 2m 4f lst (1) hvy in Jan beating Midnight Jazz (11-0) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Lalor (GER) 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, steadied before 2nd, headway 3 out, every chance last, stayed on, held by winner inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Western Ryder (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (3) sft in Dec.
Knocknanuss (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Raced wide, tracked leaders led going well and hung left before 2 out, clear when went left and hit last, kept on strongly, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Notre Ami (11-8) by 7l, 8 ran.
Waterlord 11-4 (11-4) Led, headed before 4 out, challenged 3 out, weakened run-in, 4th of 6, 12 1/4l behind First Flow (11-4) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
William H Bonney 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on same pace, 6th of 11, 12l behind A Hare Breath (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Irish Roe (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, every chance last, kept on gamely run-in, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Maria's Benefit (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Silver Streak (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, went 2nd last, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Nietzsche 28-1 (10-10) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 3rd, every chance when hit 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 10th of 17, 13 1/4l behind Hunters Call (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Coeur Blimey (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders on outside, mistake 4 out, urged along after 3 out, every chance when hit 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 6th of 16, 8 1/4l behind William Henry (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Zalvados (FR) 4-6fav (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd on bit before 3 out, led 2 out, clear from last, easily, won at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Shivermetimbers (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.