Racecards
14:45 Newbury
Tote Gold Trophy Hurdle (Showcase Handicap) (Class A)
- 25 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Form 112-521
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up behind, smooth headway approaching 4 out, led and not fluent last, hard ridden flat, headed on line
- Form 22/323-P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to chase leaders last, kept on
- Form 04-1224
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, chased leaders last, kept on flat
- Form 331-123
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden on 2 out, weakened flat
Hasty Prince
35- Form B1-1332
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
held up rear, never a factor
Self Defense
57- Form 24P-124
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey F Keniry
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened last
Geos (FR)
77- Form 12405-2
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, chased leaders approaching last, strong run close home, led on line
- Form 161-2P1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
blundered and unseated rider 1st
Benbyas
35- Form 250-501
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer D Carroll
- Jockey P J Brennan
prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened
- Form 50-1342
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey C Llewellyn
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, every chance last, kept on but no extra flat
Mughas (IRE)
56- Form 56-0113
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden next, stayed on well flat
Risky Reef
90- Form 3211-44
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Andrew Lee
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up towards rear, headway 4th, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
Never (FR)
70- Form 15001-0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey W Jones
always behind
Le Duc (FR)
36- Form 61-14F2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, some headway next, no impression from 3 out
- Form 1350-33
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
mid-division, headway 3rd, led approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
- Form 355-220
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr R M P McNally
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
- Form 42534P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
led until 4 out, soon weakened
Contraband
14- Form 31112
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr T J Malone
chased leaders, ridden when blundered badly 4 out, weakened quickly
- Form 145-1P5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey J P Elliott
chased leaders until 4th, soon behind
- Form 3P-F001
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey Dave Crosse
chased leaders until weakened after 4 out
- Form 112/1F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mid-division until 4th, soon behind
- Form 212-RP
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
mid-division, ridden and steady headway from 4 out, weakened flat
Goldbrook
28- Form 2-31131
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Hodges
- Jockey A Honeyball
held up towards rear, never dangerous
- Form U16111
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
chased leaders until 3rd, soon tailed off
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Reigning Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster came back to form for the first time since his Festival success when winning at Haydock last month but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding faces no easy task giving 13lbs and upwards away to his rivals here and we prefer to side with Saintsaire, who gets the verdict over Limerick Boy. The selection has failed to progress since making a winning debut in this country over course and distance last term but has shown signs of a return to form in his last two starts on going softer than ideal and, with conditions more suitable today, he gets the vote to give trainer Nicky Henderson another big race winner on a Saturday. Limerick Boy showed improved form to win the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton last time but this looks harder off his new mark. Paul Nicholls saddles three with Sporazene, who is closely matched with the selection on running here in November, preferred to stablemates Le Duc and Sud Bleu. Jonjo O'Neill also saddles three runners with Hasty Prince, a creditable second to Rooster Booster last time and placed in both starts prior to that this term, holding more solid claims than Quazar and Never. Tony McCoy opts to ride Champion Hurdle runner-up Westender in preference to Martin Pipe's other four entered runners but he seems to reserve his best form for Cheltenham and is probably best watched. Champion Hurdle fourth Self Defense, the relatively unexposed Tom Paddington and Nicky Henderson's Geos are others worthy of a mention but preference is for Saintsaire who, with ground conditions to suit is taken to finally fulfil his potential.