Racecards
15:45 Newton Abbot
Bells Scotch Whisky Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 431
- Age 3
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
mid-division, struggling 5th, hard ridden and headway to go 3rd approaching 2 out, no further impression
- Form 325-113
- Age 3
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
made all, clear 3 out, driven out
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey T J O'Brien
never fluent, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4th
- Form 43
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
chased leaders until weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Harris
- Jockey A Thornton
tailed off from after 4th, left remote 4th 2 out
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
chased winner until after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
Hard As Iron
17- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
blundered 3rd, soon behind, pulled up after next
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
hit 2nd, mid-division until 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
Silmi
61- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up behind, headway approaching 5th, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, hit 2 out, stayed on
Gertie (IRE)
39- Age 3
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer E J Creighton
- Jockey M D Grant
mid-division, ridden and headway after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 4th when fell 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Tension Point gets the confident vote in this novices hurdle with Soliya and Atacama King rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Calisto Moon despite nearly being brought down at the first. Granted he has a penalty for that win but he looks sure to improve and he gets the nod. Soliya rates the main danger but she was behind the selection last time out and although better off at the weights she still has a little to find. Atacama King is another that could go well on his latest third behind Majestic Chief but he often finds less than expected off the bridle and he will need to improve for the fitting of first time blinkers if he is to score. Of the remainder Silmi has been placed at up to seven furlongs on the flat but he looks a doubtful stayer and with this in mind Tension Point is hard to oppose.
Formwatch
Tension Point 33-1 (10-12) Badly hampered and behind 1st, hit 4th, plenty to do when stayed on from 3 out, chased leader 2 out, led after last, won at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul beating Callisto Moon (10-12) by 2l, 13 ran.
Soliya (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Led, ridden 3 out, headed soon after and faded, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Tension Point (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gd in Jul.
Agapios (IRE) Mull of Kintyre gelding out of winning miler Miss Moore.
Atacama King (USA) 14-1 (10-13) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 11, 19l behind Majestic Chief (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Avant Gardiste (FR) (9-2) 4th of 7, 2l behind Nabati (8-8) at Cholet 1m 2f stk in Apr (Flat).
Citrus Chief (USA) 20-1 (8-5) Tracked winner to over 2f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 12l behind Mountain Cat (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (6) pol in Jul (Flat).
Flying Grey (IRE) 10-3 (9-4) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 8l behind Diamond Key (8-8) at Warwick 1m 3f 3yo sll (6) sft in Jul (Flat).
Hard As Iron 20-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, behind final furlong, last of 8, 23l behind Norisan (9-1) at Salisbury 7f clm (5) sft in Jul (Flat).
Lets Get Cracking (FR) 16-1 (9-2) Pulled hard, led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 12, 37l behind Phreeze (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gs in Jun (Flat).
Silmi 16-1 (9-4) Behind, ridden 5f out, kept on steadily final 2f, never nearer, 8th of 15, 14l behind Hi Calypso (9-5) at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jun (Flat).
Gertie (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Diamond Key (8-8) at Warwick 1m 3f 3yo sll (6) sft in Jul (Flat).