Racecards
16:00 Stratford
Alan Grinsill 50th Birthday 'nh' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good (Chase Good to Soft plcs, Hurlde Good to Firm plcs)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Form 65/651-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led 2nd, headed 4th, ridden 3 out, one pace
- Form P3F1-20
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J R Norton
- Jockey P Aspell
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 6532-32
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
with leader, led 4th, pushed along 2 out, jumped left last, ran on
- Form 0/41-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey W T Kennedy
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon beaten
Maree Hall (IRE)
162- Form F/52650-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J A Geake
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, stayed on to chase winner towards finish, no chance
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs Mary Hambro
- Jockey T Siddall
towards rear, blundered and jumped left 5th, mistake 2 out
- Form 3/1P-2PP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
led, headed 2nd, stayed prominent until weakened 3 out
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A E Jones
- Jockey Christian Williams
in rear and not jump well, well behind when fell 5th
- Form 806-0
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer D J S Ffrench Davis
- Jockey O Nelmes
always in rear, lost touch 3 out
- Form 97-4695
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey W Marston
held up, bumped 5th, soon driven and beaten
In depth
Verdict
In a race that lacks strength in depth, Loita Hills is sected ahead of Hot Zone. Hot Zone finished second in a Market Rasen handicap off a mark of 104 last time out, and that reads as competitive form here. Loita Hills won handicap here off a mark of 108 last time, and that type of form, for us, makes him the one to beat today. Heather Dalton's Longwood Law, a point-to-point winner, and Venetia Williams' Shannonvale, also a point-to-point scorer, are two maybe to have a look at in the betting but, in truth, it is hard to build strong cases for the others. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Loita Hills, who can land the hat-trick here.
Formwatch
Loita Hills (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) In touch, headway 7th, tracking leaders when mistake 3 out, led last, quickened clear, won at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Baloo (10-6) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Dix Huit Cyborg (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Pulled hard, tracked leaders to 7th, weakening when stumbled 8th, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Gone To Lunch (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Hot Zone (IRE) 15-8fav (10-11) Held up, headway 3 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Hi Dancer (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jun.
Longwood Law (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Always behind, 11th of 15, 45l behind Osprey View (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gs.
Maree Hall (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) In rear from 3rd, 15th of 17, well behind Or Jaune (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Shannonvale (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led, headed approaching 2nd, weakened 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kings Euro (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft, 10 ran.
That's My Boy (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Held up in tch; str run to chall last; no ex u.p final 150yds, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Castle Cazza (11-7) at Bratton Down 3m ptp gf in Jun.
Legends Lass 50-1 (10-5) Chased winner until after 2 out, weakened last, soon eased, 5th of 15, 26l behind Osprey View (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gs.