Racecards
16:00 Newton Abbot
Pat Churchill Retirement Handicap Hurdle (Class C)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 6635-14
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
held up in touch, headway after 4th, joined leaders 3 out, led after 3 out, clear last, driven out
- Form 211133
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey Gary Richards
held up last, reminder 4th, headway 5th, mistake 3 out and hard ridden, jumped left 2 out and last, went 2nd flat
- Form 2354-41
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
chased leader, joined leader after 4th, led 5th, ridden 3 out, headed after 3 out, hampered 2 out, no extra flat
- Form 0020-60
- Age 13
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey P Flynn
led to 5th, ridden before 7th, weakened 3 out
In depth
Verdict
A competitive field goes to post for this handicap hurdle and the principals look to be Tango Royal, Marrel and Dantie Boy and we will take a chance on Marrel. The five year old from the Dai Burchell yard has been in good form of late and a reproduction of her latest third behind Hors La Loi in a more competitive contest at Stratford last time would make her hard to beat.Tango Royal rates the main danger on his latest fourth behind Showpiece as that horse has since ran well in defeat in a very competitive contest at Market Rasen. Dantie Boy is another worthy of consideration but he gave the impression the handicapper had caught up with him when second behind Mastre Salla a couple of runs ago. Of the remainder Dun An Doras is from a shrewd yard and is worth noting in the market but we are happy to side with Marrel.