Racecards
14:50 Newcastle
Federation Brewery Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good
- Form 523-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
held up in touch, headway 8th, led approaching 4 out, drew clear from 3 out, easily
- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey P Buchanan
led to 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, soon behind
- Form 0-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey K Renwick
raced keen, tracked leader, led 9th, headed approaching 4 out, soon ridden, faded from 2 out
- Form P56
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss Kariana Key
- Jockey D McGann
held up towards rear, headway halfway to chase leaders, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
Russian Sky
13- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs H Graham
- Jockey M H Naughton
tracked leaders, mistake and dropped rear 9th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 0/5
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Charlton
- Jockey B Gibson
held up in rear, headway 4 out and in touch, soon ridden, went 2nd 3 out, soon no chance
In depth
Verdict
This won't take much winning and Great As Gold has been found a soft contest to follow up his Hexham victory. A moderate stayer on the flat, he looked a difficult ride on more than one occasion, but hurdling looks like being the making of him and with improvement to come at this trip, he is the one they all have to beat. Deja Vu didn't exactly shape as though he was a winner waiting to happen when a moderate fifth at Sedgefield on his debut, but while he is open to improvement, he will need to. Stablemate Intersky Sovereign showed even less on his debut and may do better in time. The main threat may come from Sea Knight, who at least showed a glimmer of promise on his hurdling debut at Wetherby recently and may have done better still had he not slipped on landing over the third last. While he is open to improvement it is hard to see him being good enough to topple Great As Gold.