Racecards
16:00 Plumpton
Gerald Karn-Smith Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £12,500 added
- Winner: £8,122
- 2nd: £2,385
- 3rd: £1,192
- 4th: £596
- Form 6230-51
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased leading trio, went 2nd briefly 6th, mistake next, 3rd after 9th until hit 3 out, modest 3rd again before next, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo
- Form 64-2312
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 125
jumped well, made all, pushed along and went left 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, in command when shaken up before last, stayed on well
- Form 34541-2
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Harry Haynes
held up in rear, modest 5th at 4th, driven along and struggling in rear again before 10th, no chance after, tailed off
- Form 8250P/2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
held up in last pair, blundered badly and dropped to rear 4th, went modest 5th again before 10th, struggling and no chance when eased before 3 out, tailed off, mistake last
- Form 4U2435-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
chased leading pair, mistake 7th, lost 3rd after 9th, soon driven along, weakened before 2 out
- Form 753/322-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey T Scudamore
not always fluent, chased winner, lost 2nd briefly 6th, hit 10th, challenging when stumbled 2 out, ridden and held when edged left before last, hung left flat
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Gary Moore runs two in this with the trainer's son Jamie opting for De Blacksmith ahead of Auld Sthock. The six-year-old has yet to finish out of the frame in four starts here so has to go on the short-list but AZURE FLY impressed when beating previous winner August Hill at Newton Abbot and can maintain his unbeaten record over the larger obstacles at the main expense of Seventh Sky, who has also taken well to fences. Romeo Americo made a very encouraging reappearance at Uttoxeter and Fergal Mael Duin will be interesting once he's got some experience under his belt.
Formwatch
Azure Fly (IRE) 5-6fav (10-12) Close 3rd, went 2nd 8th, challenged 10th, led next, shaken up before last, edged left flat, stayed on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (4) gd in Sep beating August Hill (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 3 ran.
Seventh Sky (GER) 5-2 (11-9) Prominent until 1st, chased leaders until 6th, closed from 3 out, left 3 lengths 2nd last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Buck Mulligan (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jul.
Auld Sthock (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, left close 2nd 4 out, ridden before next, well held after 2 out, 2nd of 3, 44l behind Always Archie (10-13) at Fakenham 2m 7f nh nov hdl (3) gd in May.
Romeo Americo (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in last, jumped right, not fluent 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd last, closing on winner flat, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Sergeant Mattie (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (3) gd.
De Blacksmith (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Not always fluent in rear, mistake 10th, ridden 13th, in touch at back of group 3 out, outpaced and no impression before next, 5th of 8, 16l behind Ballincurrig (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Apr.
Fergal Mael Duin 9-4fav (11-5) Led 1st until before 4th, led 7th until after 3 out, ridden to lead narrowly when left clear 2 out, awkward and reduced lead last, headed and one pace flat, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Enchanted Garden (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.