Racecards
17:30 Newton Abbot
Helen Hambly Happy 40th Birthday Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f 105y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,899
- 2nd: £1,145
- 3rd: £572
- 4th: £286
- Form 31/1PUF-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Matt Griffiths
in rear, not always fluent, headway after 8th, went 2nd next, led after 3 out, jumped right when pressed 2 out, mistake last, held on well
- Form 3P6-66F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey T E Whelan
tracked leaders on inside, mistakes, reminders 3rd and 7th, lost place 8th, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form 1/23PP-4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, outpaced when mistake 9th, well beaten 3 out
Rior (IRE)
21- Form 3056-22
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, not fluent 8th, effort next, not fluent 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 073-731
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
mid-division on outside, closed after 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenging when hampered 2 out, stayed on, held close home
- Form 5143-64
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J Farrelly
- Jockey N D Fehily
led until after 2nd, led 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 6335-81
- Age 7
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
tracked leaders, driven after 9th, 3rd and held before 2 out, stayed on
- Form 10/P8P-P
- Age 11
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, well beaten 3 out
- Form 5311/P4-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Mark Wall
- Jockey Kielan Woods
with leader, led after 2nd, headed 8th, weakened next, pulled up after 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Horace Hazel beat Rior by just over two lengths over this course and distance last month with Finish The Story back in fourth. But the runner-up is 8lb better off so has every chance of turning the tables on Anthony Honeyball's charge. The Kings Assassin arrives off the back of a win in a lower grade at Fontwell but tends to run his best races at the Sussex track. Primo Capitano would have each-way claims but DECIMUS is the interesting one as he goes well fresh and has stamina in abundance. He went chasing in the autumn but did win over hurdles at Ludlow in April of last year and is only 2lb higher today.
Formwatch
Decimus (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Fell 1st, in a race won by Adrenalin Flight (11-1) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Vandross (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Fell 1st, in a race won by Jayo Time (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f cnd/am sll hdl (5) gd in Jun, 8 ran.
Primo Capitano (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, every chance before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace, 4th of 8, 11l behind Be Bop Boru (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
Rior (IRE) 11-4 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 7th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Horace Hazel (11-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Horace Hazel 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun beating Rior (11-11) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Finish The Story (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Pressed leader, led 7th until next, ridden after 3 out, beaten 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 12l behind Horace Hazel (11-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
The Kings Assassin (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, veered left 3rd, closed 8th, ridden and lost place before next, rallied 2 out, challenged last, soon led, edged right flat, driven out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jun beating The Wee Midget (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Life Of A Luso (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Mistake sin rear, blundered 5th, mistake 8th, tailed off 11th, pulled up 13th, in a race won by Adrenalin Flight (11-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May, 10 ran.
Getmeouthedoldrums 5-2 (12-0) (tt) led aft 7 til hdd aft 3 out; one pce, 4th of 10, 7l behind Minella For Party (12-0) at Albrighton Woodland 3m ptp gd in May '14.