Racecards
14:40 Newbury
bet365 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £12,000 added
- Winner: £7,507
- 2nd: £2,218
- 3rd: £1,109
- 4th: £554
- Form 2840-11
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up tracking leaders, went 3rd 8th, held when went left last, stayed on to 2nd final 125 yards, no chance with winner
- Form 11217-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leader, challenged and slight peck 3 out, led after 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, ridden and won going away flat
Harry Hunt
28- Form 40-2133
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey R Thornton
jumped right, tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, reminders before 10th, mistake next, blundered and weakened 13th, eased and jumped badly right from next, tailed off
- Form 23424-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up tracking leaders, went 4th 14th, pushed along soon after, ridden before 3 out, weakened soon after 3 out
- Form 6415-S1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer F Brennan
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
jumped right, led pushed along and joined 2 out, soon headed and driven, 2 lengths down and well held last, no chance with winner and dropped to 3rd final 125 yards
In depth
Verdict
Some of these still have some potential but Sandown third Grandads Horse would have preferred a faster surface while Whats Happening races for a new stable and has had a break since notching a double in Ireland in the summer. Easter Day will be popular, despite making mistakes when only fourth on his chasing debut at Chepstow, but we prefer RENARD D'IRLANDE. The grey was a little lucky to win at Uttoxeter 12 days ago but that will have done his confidence the world of good and he's possibly well treated here. Harry Hunt and Sergeant Dick both have decent form to their name but need to improve again to land this.
Formwatch
Whats Happening (IRE) 13-8fav (11-6) Soon tracked leaders, niggled along 6 out, not fluent 4 out, closed and on terms before straight, led and stayed on best closing stages, won at Limerick 3m chs gf in Jul beating Original Option (11-10) by 1l, 9 ran.
Easter Day (FR) 7-4fav (11-4) Tracked leading pair, outpaced when lost 3rd 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 23l behind Balder Succes (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f nov chs (2) gd in Oct.
Harry Hunt 15-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd or 5th, in touch from 9th, went 3rd last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Mart Lane (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Oct.
Renard D'irlande (FR) 11-4fav (11-3) Always prominent, ridden after 4 out, 1 1/2 lengths down when left in lead last, idled, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft beating No Buts (10-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Sergeant Dick (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Prominent, led before 3rd, ridden after 4 out, edged left flat, all out, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy beating Wychwoods Brook (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Grandads Horse 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, lost place before 7th, mistake 12th, well beaten 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Kapga De Cerisy (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft.