Racecards
16:30 Newcastle
Vertem - Leading The Field Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 98y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £11,000 added
- Winner: £6,238
- 2nd: £1,832
- 3rd: £916
- 4th: £458
- Form 344424
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Miss P Robson
- Jockey Craig Nichol
led until after 2nd, remained prominent, effort 3 out, weakened before last
- Form 421540
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer P A Kirby
- Jockey Thomas Dowson
always prominent, led after 2nd, pushed clear before last, easily (2 hurdles omitted)
- Form 1-P2341
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
chased leaders, took closer order 3 out, weakened next
- Form 5709-11
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey Ross Chapman
chased leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last
- Form 212-174
- Age 10
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Mrs H O Graham
- Jockey Callum Bewley
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Applaus beat a subsequent winner over fences at Wetherby last month but hasn’t raced over hurdles in almost 12 months. Katgary is still 3lb higher than when second at Kelso in January and Sakhee's City remains 4lb higher than when scoring at Catterick in the same month. BULLS HEAD won over track and trip on his first start for Martin Todhunter and followed up in emphatic fashion at Ayr. He’s gone up 9lb for that but Ross Chapman is good value for his 5lb claim.
Formwatch
Katgary (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, soon lost place, last of 4, 28l behind Cyrus Darius (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.
Sakhee's City (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 11, 29 1/2l behind Clyne (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Applaus (GER) 11-1 (11-12) Raced wide close up, led 4 out, headed next, led again approaching last, ridden out, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Caraline (12-3) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Bulls Head (IRE) 7-4 (10-1) In rear and tracked leaders, went 3rd before 3 out, bumped and led 2 out, mistake last, kept on well run-in, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Strong Economy (10-11) by 6l, 4 ran.
Rhymers Stone 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leader until ridden between 3 out/2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 22 1/2l behind Apache Jack (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Mar.