Racecards
20:20 Stratford
H.L. Barnes & Sons Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 125y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,431
- 2nd: £1,309
- 3rd: £654
- 4th: £328
- Form 4231-22
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Alan Johns
tracked leaders, 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner before last, one pace
- Form PP-1111
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer M A Barnes
- Jockey Dale Irving
led until 4 out, weakened after 2 out
- Form 7257-32
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, led 4 out, clear before last, easily
- Form 246-353
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer David Dennis
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, not fluent 3rd, headway 4 out, 5th when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 96774-5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
tracked leader until 5th, jumped left 9th, stumbled badly and lost place 13th, weakened 3 out
Opechee (IRE)
158- Form 6/35267-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey T Scudamore
in rear, not always fluent, headway 4 out, 3rd after 2 out, no extra last
Ethelwyn
19- Form 2427-53
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey B S Hughes
In depth
Verdict
Braqueur D'or is among a small team keeping the Paul Nicholls stable ticking over during the summer months and he looked a sure-fire future winner when running Calin Du Brizais to a neck at Newton Abbot. But that was over 3m2f and the in-form NO SUCH NUMBER may just have his measure over this trip. Maurice Barnes’ novice has shot up the weights as a result of winning his last four but continues to find plenty and should again beat Uttoxeter third Ethelwyn. Doitforjoe is not out of this but Ballypoint appears to be going backwards and hunter chaser Always Archie has plenty to do under top weight.
Formwatch
Always Archie 10-11fav (12-2) Close up, pushed along 14th, ridden 4 out, outpaced by winner 3 out, went remote 2nd flat, 2nd of 5, 37l behind Broken Eagle (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m (6) gd in May.
No Such Number 5-2 (11-1) Made all, driven flat, held on gamely, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun beating Trafalgar Rock (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Braqueur D'Or (FR) 2-1fav (12-1) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway next, slightly hampered before 11th, challenged 4 out, led next, jumped right 2 out, just over a length ahead last, headed close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Calin Du Brizais (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Doitforjoe (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 3rd, headway 10th, close 3rd 4 out, no impression on winner from 3 out, kept on in 3rd and well clear of rest, 3rd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Court King (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Ballypoint (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Held up on outside, closed 3rd, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 9, 35 1/4l behind Optimistic Bias (12-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Opechee (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Behind, mistake 1st, reminder after 7 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Ypsilanti (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Ethelwyn 14-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in rear, ridden after 11th, went 3rd 3 out, no impression, weakening when hit last, 3rd of 5, 16 1/4l behind No Such Number (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jun.