Racecards
15:10 Plumpton
TCA Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 01-7
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Mrs L Richards
- Jockey M Batchelor
mid-division, ridden and weakened 5th
- Form 9351
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J M Maguire
in touch, ridden to chase leader 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 414323
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
held up, weakening and mistake 3 out
Anticipating
36- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
held up towards rear, smooth headway 3 out, mistake when chasing clear leader 2 out, ridden soon after and ran on to lead line
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked leader, ridden from 5th, weakened 3 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G P Enright
- Jockey Mr J Pemberton
always behind, tailed off from 3rd, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 6
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss M P Bryant
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
in touch, lost place 3rd, behind from 6th
Head Boy
29- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S Dow
- Jockey James Davies
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened
Pick of The Crop
290- Form 8-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey L P Aspell
in touch, headway 6th, weakened quickly and eased approaching 2 out
- Form 8-5F
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P A Blockley
- Jockey Angharad Frieze
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
- Form 0P0/47P-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer T G Mills
- Jockey J P McNamara
held up, smooth headway on inside 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed line
Whistling Fred
133- Form 220-5
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B De Haan
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in rear and keen, mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, keeping on when mistake 2 out
La Dolfina
313- Form B3F-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on to chase clear front pair last
- Form 008-7
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer D Brace
- Jockey J A Jenkins
led until ridden and weakening when headed 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Turbo could still get it right over hurdles and gets a tentative vote over La Dolfina, with Dyneburg and Gemini Dancer also expected to figure prominently. It has to be said first of all that Turbo has not produced the goods when tried over hurdles in the past, but he has taken on far, far better company, including when lining up in the 2003 Triumph Hurdle. He has been confined to the Flat since last December, and has found life tough in that sphere as well, despite tumbling in the weights. However, Toby Balding is still convinced that he has the makings of a decent hurdler, and is sure to have had him well-schooled in preparation for a crack at the obstacles again. La Dolfina picked up three handicaps for Hugh Morrison in 2003, but after three uninspiring efforts over timber, has been absent this year. She is another that will have been put through her paces in readiness for her return. Dyneburg is going the right way and should improve again after landing a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon, while Gemini Dancer should also be involved, although he did not find a great deal after travelling well throughout behind Space Cowboy at Newton Abbot. There are plenty of ifs, buts and maybes in this line-up, and only a small vote of confidence goes to Turbo.
Formwatch
Atlantic City 16-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden 6th, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 29l behind At Your Request (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (E) gd in Apr.
Dyneburg (POL) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, led next, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (F) gf in Aug beating Screenplay (11-1) by 3l, 14 ran.
Gemini Dancer 4-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, mistake 3 out, headway and going well approaching 2 out, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Space Cowboy (11-7) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gf in Aug.
Anticipating 14-1 (8-11) Held up, effort 3f out, last of 7, 13l behind Salinja (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Aug (Flat).
Carte Sauvage (USA) 100-1 (9-4) Always in rear, last of 16, 41l behind Balkan Knight (9-9) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gd (Flat).
Turbo (IRE) 4-1fav (10-13) Held up, ridden and weakened quickly 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Island Sound (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Whistling Fred 14-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, some headway 6th, hit 3 out, one pace next, never near leaders, 5th of 15, 29l behind Kilindini (10-12) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (F) gd in May.
La Dolfina 15-2 (10-2) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and 4th when fell 2 out in race won by Prins Willem (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Nov, 15 ran.