Racecards
14:00 Newton Abbot
'Surfs Up' Handicap Hurdle
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 244-311
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey J Culloty
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, ran on well
- Form 2034-35
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Ms Bridget Nicholls
- Jockey J M Maguire
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 44F42-8
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer W K Goldsworthy
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, kept on
- Form 6-F3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey D Laverty
chased leaders, ridden and every chance when mistake 2 out, 3rd and held when blundered last
- Form 8P7-3
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer M G Rimell
- Jockey G Lee
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, one pace
Virtus
16- Form 870-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
always towards rear
- Form 4P530-P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer R S Brookhouse
- Jockey B Wharfe
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, soon weakened
Riccarton
21- Form 35724-F
- Age 12
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer D C Turner
- Jockey R Greene
mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 4F000-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 81
raced wide, led, mistake 1st and 4th, hung right and headed after 5th, soon beaten
- Form P070P-0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
held up, ridden after 5th, weakening when blundered 3 out
Olimpo (FR)
11- Form 679-F
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Mr T J O'Brien
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 0246-70
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
Nonrunner
Club Royal
21- Form U/P650-4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer N E Berry
- Jockey James Davies
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Nesnaas is a speculative selection over Polished, with Virtus and Don't Ask Me others worth considering. Mark Rimell has booked Graham Lee again for Nesnass after the gelding's good effort at Ludlow last month when he was an encouraging third to Kentmere. He was held up to get the trip on that first outing since November, and looks capable of opening his account off his current mark. He was trained by Ben Hanbury as a two-year-old, and appeared set for a successful career on the level after a debut third to Fort Dignity on fast ground at Yarmouth. He has been campaigned on softish ground since going hurdling, but today's conditions will suit him better. Polished has bolted up in two consecutive sellers at Hexham and Towcester but will find things tougher with his penalty to carry in this company, while Virtus shaped well when second on his handicap debut at Stratford, but his stable were out of form at the weekend. Don't Ask Me has been a bitter disappointment so far but if anyone can work the oracle then Pipe can, but we are prepared to take a chance on Nesnass who has conditions in his favour.
Formwatch
Polished 5-6fav (11-11) Held up, headway 4th, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m sll hdl (G) gf in May beating Spectacular Hope (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Cream Cracker 9-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 9, 8l behind Lone Soldier (10-6) at Wetherby 2m ldy hcp hdl (F) gd in May.
Imperial Rocket (USA) 33-1 (10-0) Led 1st, headed approaching 2 out, weakened, 8th of 15, 27l behind Cool Spice (11-6) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gd in May.
Skibereen (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden and challenged after 3 out, lost touch 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind In Media Res (10-3) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gs in May.
Nesnaas (USA) 15-2 (10-0) Held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, not quicken flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Kentmere (11-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in May.
Virtus 9-2 (10-7) Held up, headway when blundered 6, ridden 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Front Rank (11-8) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in May.
Olimpo (FR) 9-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, headway on bit to lead 5th, ridden headed and found nil approaching 2 out, 2nd and held when fell at the last in race won by Miss Lehman (10-1) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in May, 9 ran.
Club Royal 20-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 18, 11l behind Miss Lehman (10-3) at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in May.