Racecards
16:50 Stratford
Premier Cru Novices' Hurdle
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- Form 561-11
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, led 2 out, ran on
- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer T G Mills
- Jockey Jim Crowley
in touch, led 5th, headed 2 out, not quicken
- Form 0000/6-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A J Wilson
- Jockey A Thornton
always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 08
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M J Gingell
- Jockey Mr J Owen
held up and took keen hold, last when hit 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, weakened 3 out
- Form P-0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer C Tinkler
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, headway after 6th, weakened after 3 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leaders until approaching 3 out
Screenplay
31- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey J Goldstein
held up in touch, every chance after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
- Form 3-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey D R Dennis
in touch, headway to dispute lead 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, no chance when mistake last
Weet An Haul
21- Form 00
- Age 4
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer T Wall
- Jockey P Merrigan
chased leaders, hit 5th, weakening when fell 3 out
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey W Marston
held up in mid-division, headway 5th, weakening when mistake 3 out
Just Magical
49- Form 50/PP-P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Mrs C A Dunnett
- Jockey C Llewellyn
prominent, led after 4th until 5th, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 053P-22
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 76
led until after 4th, soon weakened
Simiola
8- Form 6P/7-4P0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer S T Lewis
- Jockey Dave Crosse
held up, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer R Brotherton
- Jockey P J Brennan
steadied start, held up, always behind
In depth
Verdict
Darrias is capable of defying a penalty at the expense of Settlement Craic, with Alekhine, Screenplay and Iffy worth a mention. The ex-German Darrias has been going the right way over the past two months, having won his last three starts, including at Hereford in May. That was on fast ground, and although he prevailed in softer conditions on his handicap debut over the course and distance last time, today's underfoot terrain will help him offset the burden of topweight. Settlement Craic was at one time seen as a potential Derby horse by Terry Mills, but having failed to hit the heights, has embarked on a career over timber. It has not taken long for him to make his mark, and his Fontwell success has been given a boost by the subsequent victory of runner-up Dubai Ace. He will go on the ground as well, and should make a race of it with the selection who has the edge in experience. Alekhine was no great shakes on the level and the Hobbs team has not been in the best of form, and other ex-Flat horses Screenplay and Iffy are hard to assess. The latter won a 10-furlong handicap at Ascot last year and would be worth noting if the market speaks in his favour, but Darrias sets the standard in the finale.