Racecards
14:50 Newton Abbot
NewtonAbbotRace On Twitter Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 167y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,549
- 2nd: £1,336
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
- Form 574UPP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
held up in touch, ridden and weakened after 5th, struggling when stumbled badly next, soon pulled up
- Form 79-3051
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
raced keenly, led, clear after 2nd, tried to run out on paddock bend after 4th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace
- Form 62232P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey A Thornton
held up, steady headway approaching 5th, weakened next, went moderate 4th run-in
- Form P82-175
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Kevin Jones
held up in last trio, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 3rd under pressure on outside before 2 out, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo
- Form 1558P2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
in touch, dropped to rear 3rd, tailed off 5th
- Form 653412
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, moderate 4th before next, until run-in
- Form 697466
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey James Davies
raced keenly, tracked leader until 3rd, chased leaders until pushed along and weakened before 2 out
- Form 80243
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 94
tracked leading pair, blundered 4th, 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, in command when hit last, comfortably
In depth
Verdict
Definitely Better has been in good form lately but she's never won over 2m and is probably a shade high in the weights again now. THE MISSUS (NAP) was given a positive ride by Richard Johnson at Chepstow and never looked like being reeled in. Sam Waley-Cohen will have Warren Greatrex' mare up with the pace again today and she can repeat the trick. Dainty Diva was beaten in a seller at Exeter last month while Ayla's Emperor is proving hard to predict and steps up a grade for this. Midnight Sapphire was racing over much further last year and hasn't been seen since November.
Formwatch
Sureness (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Towards rear, not fluent, headway 9th, mistakes 10th and 4 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
The Missus 15-8 (10-12) Made all, clear after 1st, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Mar beating Goldray (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Midnight Sapphire 6-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, outpaced 6th, well behind from next, pulled up after, at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Giveagirlachance (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Master Burbidge (9-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Dainty Diva (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up off the pace in 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, no chance with easy winner but clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Mother Meldrum (10-13) at Exeter 2m 3f (5) hvy in Mar.
Definitely Better (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) In touch, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders next, every chance from 2 out, stayed on strongly towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Magic Money (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Ice Tres 20-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd 6th until ridden approaching 2 out, one pace from last, 6th of 17, 13 3/4l behind Canadian Diamond (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Ayla's Emperor 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, steady headway approaching 3 out, 4th and one pace before next, went 3rd before the last, kept on, 3rd of 11, 7 3/4l behind Kayf Charmer (10-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.