Racecards
15:40 Newton Abbot
Grolsch 'national Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 8-31282
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in touch, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, clear approaching last comfortable
- Form P-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
towards rear, not fluent and reminders 3rd, headway 6th, ridden and outpaced next, stayed on from 2 out to take 3rd last
Brave Jo (FR)
180- Form 04908-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
led, mistake 5th, headed and weakened 3 out, fell 2 out
Cornish Jack
262- Form 0900-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Mr Turlough O'connor
mid-division, ridden and lost place 5th, soon well behind
- Form 415422
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey Mr D England
tracked leaders, led briefly approaching 6th, weakened 2 out
- Form F645-66
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer N G Ayliffe
- Jockey S Curling
soon chasing leader, reminders 5th, weakened next
- Form 454212/
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
in touch and keen, ridden and weakened after 6th
- Form 33-32
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey A Thornton
towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 6th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, soon held
- Form 0-52061
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
Nonrunner
- Form 91D2-9C
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 85
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Changing Gear, gets the confident vote here with Grand Slam Hero and Watch The Dove rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Zion with plenty in hand granted he has a penalty for that win but he again has conditions to suit and he will be hard to beat. Grand Slam Hero rates the main danger on his latest second behind So Brash but he found little off the bridle on that occasion and is opposed for that reason. Watch The Dove is another worthy of respect on her best form but the suspicion is she may just need the run over a 701 day absence. Dazzling Jim is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he is far from straight forward and is hard to win with. Of the remainder Vintage Fabric is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but for the winner we return to Changing Gear who sets a fair standard and will be hard to beat.
Formwatch
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leader 3 out, narrow leader last, hung left flat and headed close home, 2nd of 11, shd behind So Brash (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Brave Benefactor (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders to 3rd, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 7th pulled up 5 out in race won by Giovanna (10-9) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr, 16 ran.
Dazzling Jim 11-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon no impression, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Considine (11-0) at Stratford 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gf.
Griffin's Legacy 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway 6th, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 49l behind Galant Eye (10-12) at N Abbot 2m 3f sll hdl (5) sft in Jun.
Watch The Dove 11-8 (11-12) Led 1st, mistake and headed approaching next, every chance 4 out, one pace, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Frederic Forever (11-2) at Fontwell 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gf in Sept '04.
Vintage Fabric (USA) 3-1fav (10-0) Set steady pace and made most, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 11, shd behind Lamanver Homerun (9-7) at N Abbot 2m 1f nhf (6) sft in Jun.
Changing Gear (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Held up, headway after 4th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, led flat, kept on under pressure, won at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd beating Zion (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Rathlin Island 25-1 (9-11) Led, bumped by loose horse approaching 5th and carried out 5 out in race won by Hunting Lodge (9-10) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jun, 6 ran.