Racecards
16:40 Newton Abbot
Independent Racecourses Limited IRL Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 3f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,738
- 2nd: £798
- 3rd: £399
- Form 85UU22
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
made all, reminders after 4th, hit 7th, came clear from 3 out, easily
- Form 45P41U
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R Curtis
- Jockey Hadden Frost
raced wide in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 74P2-P4
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer S A Hughes
- Jockey L P Aspell
chased winner until 6th, chased leaders until hit 7th, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 801675
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until mistake 8th, soon driven, weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
- Form 52P61P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 88
last pair, never a factor, tailed off
- Form 531-7PF
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Michael Byrne
last trio, modest 4th from 8th, no chance when went left final 2, tailed off
- Form 5-P3860
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
raced wide, chased leaders, went 3rd after 7th, pushed along in 2nd and bad mistake next, well held and no chance with winner from 3 out, held on for 2nd
- Form 726-5P6
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer Dr J R J Naylor
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
held up in touch, pushed along in 4th before 8th, went 3rd 8th, driven before 2 out, never any chance with easy winner but plugged on pressing for 2nd
In depth
Verdict
The champ has ridden AWARD WINNER to all but one of his nine career victories. The 11-year-old is only a pound higher than his last success and could be worth chancing over a longer trip with question marks also surrounding most of his rivals. Jaunty Journey has been placed the last twice but still looks fairly treated and should be thereabouts but Elegant Olive was an early casualty at Fontwell after winning at Huntingdon and According To Them won a very uncompetitive chase at Plumpton two runs ago.
Formwatch
Jaunty Journey 9-1 (10-7) Mistakes, prominent, led before 3rd, headed next, outpaced 14th, rallied 18th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Loughalder (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Elegant Olive 20-1 (11-4) Held up behind, mistake and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Sea Cadet (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Fortification (USA) 5-4 (12-0) (cp) prom; led 11-13; wknd 3 out, 4th of 10, 18l behind Chosen Milan (11-7) at Curre & Llangibby 3m ptp sft in Mar.
Award Winner 20-1 (11-10) Raced wide, chased winner until before 5th, weakened before next, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind The Darling Boy (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Feb.
According To Them (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Towards rear, pushed along 8th, ridden 12th, soon struggling, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Tarraco (11-10) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Hobb's Dream (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) In rear, behind and ridden 7th, jumped left 12th, remote when brought down 16th, in a race won by Volio Vincente (9-9) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gs in Sep, 10 ran.
Brunette'sonly (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) With leader until 6 out, ridden before next, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Admiral Blake (10-1) at Exeter 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Acosta 25-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, led before 8th, mistake and headed next, weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 14, 37l behind Residence And Spa (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec.