Racecards
12:50 Newcastle
Border Minstrel Novices' Chase (Class E)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 237R-PU
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer J R Norton
- Jockey F Keniry
held up in rear, ridden after 5 out, weakened next, left remote 3rd 2 out
- Form 21/F-212
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 105
led, mistake 5 out, headed next, left close 2nd 2 out, no extra under pressure
- Form P4/4F61-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey B P Harding
chased leaders, weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Kharak (FR)
11- Form 325/3-37
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey M Bradburne
tracked leader, challenged 5 out, led next, 1 length up when fell 2 out
- Form 3483P/7-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey T J Dreaper
held up in rear, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 34-3053
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer P C Haslam
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in touch, headway 4 out, left in lead 2 out, kept on
In depth
Verdict
Chabrimal Minster has the best recent form and should go close, but we will take a chance on the fitness of Jack Lynch, Nocatee is the pick of the others. Jack Lynch took a while to get the hang of things over hurdles, but settled well on his last run in February and was an impressive winner in the mud. He will no doubt have been well schooled and with ground conditions in his favour he can make a winning start to fencing. Chabrimal Minster landed a weak contest at Aintree, before chasing home Mon Mome at Uttoxeter. If the selection fails today through lack of fitness he should be the one to take advantage. Tony McCoy does well when riding for Pat Haslam and so recent third Nocatee is worthy of plenty of respect. The other three contenders could be out of their depth and so we turn again to Jack Lynch as our idea of the winner.
Formwatch
Abzuson 66-1 (11-2) Held up, mistake and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Bewleys Berry (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (E) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Chabrimal Minster 5-4fav (10-7) Led 2nd, blundered 9th, ridden 3 out, headed and mistake 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Mon Mome (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m nov chs (E) hvy in Nov.
Jack Lynch 12-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway on bit approaching 3 out, ridden approaching last, led flat, ridden out, won at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) sft in Feb beating Sara Monica (11-9) by 2l, 12 ran.
Kharak (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 7th of 12, 39l behind Turpin Green (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (C) sft in Nov.
Sir Rowland Hill (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Held up, slightly hampered bend after 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 24, 15l behind Hordago (9-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gd in Nov '04.
Nocatee (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) In touch, driven and outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, left 3rd 2 out, rallied flat, not reach leaders, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Celtic Blaze (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov chs (E) gs in Oct.