Racecards
17:10 Stratford
Totesport Betxtra Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £7,500 added
- Form 04-3524
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Jack Doyle
prominent, weakened under pressure after 3 out
- Form 23714
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey D R Dennis
held up, headway 3rd, hit next, went 2nd 3 out, led and 4 lengths ahead when fell 2 out
Lit Et Mixe (FR)
112- Form B47-270
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, niggled along from 4th, outpaced 3 out, hard ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to lead and left clear last
- Form 6526P1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer P Kelsall
- Jockey R J Killoran
prominent, lost place after 4th, back in touch before 3 out, soon struggling, went 3rd after last
- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
led until after 1st, led again 3rd, headed and four lengths down when left in lead and hampered 2 out, headed when fell last
- Form 31846
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J K Price
- Jockey T Messenger
pulled hard, led after 1st, mistake next, headed 3rd, struggling after 3 out, left 2nd last
- Form 224/53-0
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up in rear, raced keenly, effort after 3 out, soon no impression
- Form 445309
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
held up in rear, lost touch approaching 3 out
- Form 5P4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
Nonrunner
- Form 51-3530
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey S Durack
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
The handicapper has taken a dim view of the successes of Prince Taime and Cortinas but they may still be sufficiently progressive to be competitive here; the Hobbs runner is selected. There are concerns about his initial mark and about his absence from the track but the form of his win at Warwick in November is working out pretty well and offers sufficient encouragement to suggest that he should be competitive. There should also be plenty more to come from Cortinas who ran on well to get the better of the ill-fated The Grey Berry at Huntingdon but he's eleven pounds higher. King's Head disappointed over course and distance last time but he may yet prove capable of better and he's sure to have his supporters with McCoy doing the steering. First Point and Sharp Dresser are also considered but we'll take Prince Taime to give weight and a beating to the opposition.
Formwatch
Poliglotti (FR) 15-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went second after 3 out until next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 21l behind Chantaco (11-7) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Stravara 12-1 (9-7) Held up, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, no further impression, 4th of 11, 9l behind Khachaturian (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Sharp Dresser (USA) 7-4fav (10-1) Chased leaders, shaken up to lead approaching 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs beating Jocheski (10-8) by 7l, 12 ran.
Prince Taime (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, challenging when hit last, ridden flat, led towards finish, won at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Ouzbeck (11-5) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Cortinas (GER) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 4th, challenged going well 2 out, led last, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Mar beating The Grey Berry (11-0) by 4l, 14 ran.
Pagan Sword 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, raced keenly, hit 2 out, challenged and led last, hard driven flat, all out, won at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Mar beating Compromiznotension (11-2) by a nk, 12 ran.
First Point (GER) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 5th and 3 out, effort after 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 15l behind Quizzene (11-0) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Johnny Bissett (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon struggling, 12th of 13, 24l behind Majaales (11-4) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Mar.