Racecards
15:00 Newton Abbot
Totesuper7 Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Form 2P-1111
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey R P McLernon
always behind, tailed off 3 out
- Form 78/1P0-5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Giles Hawkins
always towards rear, well beaten after 3 out
- Form 2/00405-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Hadden Frost
behind, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 334-111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, hard driven to chase leaders after 3 out, left disputing modest 3rd 2 out
- Form U856-11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
towards rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off
Dirar (IRE)
30- Form 9-68111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 117
in touch, driven to dispute well held 4th approaching 2 out
Santia
77- Form 2114-01
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
chased leaders, chased winner before 2 out, 1 length down in 2nd and going well enough when fell 2 out
Night Cru
32- Form 2233-11
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, headway after 3 out, 3rd when left moderate 2nd and slightly hampered 2 out
- Form F47297
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Danny Cook
made most until headed before 7th, stayed handy, regained lead well before 2 out, 1 length ahead when mistake, went left and left well clear 2 out
- Form 3000-11
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, well held and no chance when hampered 2 out
- Form 4279-13
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
led early, chased leader, ridden along before 7th, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out
- Form 012F-41
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, lost place after 7th, tailed off
- Form P-11313
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey R Flint
chased leaders, driven along after 3 out, soon struggling
- Form 11P151
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
behind, reminders after 6th, no chance after
- Form 619-112
- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey J W Farrelly
chased leaders, led before 7th, headed well before 2 out, weakened into about 6th place when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out
- Form 244-712
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T Molloy
never travelling in rear, under pressure 5th, soon tailed off
- Form 4-11
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey J Kington
chased leaders, weakened into about 7th and no chance when hampered 2 out
In depth
Verdict
The rejuvenated Benetwood keeps the weights down for AP's NIGHT CRU and the ploy may well pay off. There are many to consider in a warm heat but Corum and Dirar may be chief amongst them. Benetwood is finally delivering on the promise that he showed at the start of his career but McCoy prefers Night Cru who has won his last two starts at Uttoxeter and Worcester. He won with more in hand than the margin suggests last time and the handicapper has taken a chance in not raising his mark. Corum won two races in consecutive days for this yard since being bought from a seller and an 11lb rise for an easy success may not be enough to collar him as he has looked a vastly improved performer. Dirar is a stone higher than when converting a penalty kick at Southwell but is progressing at such a rate that he, too, looks sure to be a factor from his revised perch. Procas De Thaix didn't live up to expectations for Nicky Henderson and it will be interesting to see if there's any confidence behind him on debut for a new yard as he does have ability whilst the claims of Sheshali and Santia cannot be ignored. Ambrose Princess is another worthy of mention at the foot of the weights but Night Cru represents a powerful team and appeals as the likeliest winner.
Formwatch
Benetwood (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jul beating Stumped (10-6) by 7l, 9 ran.
Bureaucrat 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, driven and lost place before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 12l behind Benetwood (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Procas de Thaix (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, jumped slowly 3rd and 4th, pushed along and effort after 3 out, weakend 2 out, 5th of 9, 23l behind First Point (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Apr.
Corum (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Chased leaders, led 4 out, hit 3 out, ridden clear approaching 2 out, not fluent last 2, eased near finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft beating Dreams Jewel (10-2) by 10l, 7 ran.
Sheshali (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Held up, smooth headway 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (5) gd in Jun beating Corkage (11-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Dirar (IRE) 4-9fav (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, steady headway from 3 out, led on bit last, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul beating Lord Baskerville (11-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
Santia 3-10fav (11-5) Held up in 4th, jumped right 1st, not fluent 4th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led 2 out, came clear flat, won at Worcester 2m hdl (4) sft in Jun beating Don Castille (10-12) by 12l, 9 ran.
Night Cru 11-10fav (11-5) Held up, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged on bit after last, shaken up to lead towards finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jul beating Passato (10-12) by nk, 8 ran.
Raslan 12-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place 4th, reminders 7th, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 48l behind Chinara (10-0) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Englishtown (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Held up, smooth headway 7th, shaken up after 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on, won at Southwell 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jul beating King Ar Aghaidh (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sendani (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Always last, jumped slowly 5th, soon niggled along, not fluent 7th, reminder after next, lost touch 4 out, last of 3, 25l behind Noticeable (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov stks (4) gd in May.
Templer (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Chased leader, mistake 8th (water) led approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in May beating Commemoration Day (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Last Flight (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leader, led after 5th, headed next, not fluent 7th or 8th, soon led again, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 6l behind English City (10-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Jul.
Orion Express 8-1 (11-5) Held up, smooth headway to track leaders soon after 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, eased near finish, won at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Celebrity Call (10-8) by 5l, 13 ran.
Bathwick Man 11-4fav (11-5) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, one pace last, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Aberdeen Park (10-12) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Markington 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, no impression until good late headway flat, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Corkage (11-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Ambrose Princess (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) With leader, led 5th, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in May beating Alflora Dora (10-10) by 21l, 5 ran.
Royal Rationale (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) In rear, jumped slowly 3rd, headway when not fluent 2 out, stayed on flat, 5th of 13, 7l behind Cootehill (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul.