Racecards
20:50 Stratford
Ggbet.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 223800-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
always prominent, led on bit after 3 out, clear 2 out easily
Bestam
77- Form 7237-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer G C Bravery
- Jockey S Thomas
in touch every chance after 3 out, second and weakening when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
- Form 74-1
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer B R Johnson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
tracked leader, led after second, headed fourth, weakened and pulled up after 3 out
- Form 98-5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs D A Hamer
- Jockey R Stephens
chased leaders every chance after 3 out, third and no chance when fell last
- Form 87-5
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
always behind, hit fifth, mistake sixth, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 4/6-9
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
mid-division, ridden after 6, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Virtus
164- Form 870-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up, headway when blundered 6, ridden 3 out, left second 2 out, no chance with winner
- Form 74P530-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer R S Brookhouse
- Jockey T Scudamore
led until after second, led fourth, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Compton Star
26- Form 72545-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
keen hold in mid-division, ridden and headway when not fluent 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out, left third last
Claim To Fame
114- Form 0P969-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up, mistake second, hit third, ridden and weakened after fifth, tailed up when pulled up before 3 out
- Form F2409-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 102
Nonrunner
- Form 4P/57P8-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Mrs H E Rees
- Jockey N D Fehily
Nonrunner
- Form 40000-5
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 83
Nonrunner
Norwegian
23- Form 609-P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
A competitive finale should go the way of New Currency with Lawaaheb and Nesnaas rated as the main dangers. The selection finished behind Nesnaas last time at Ludlow in a race won by Kentmere. However, he made a bad blunder at the second-last that day which cost him his chance, and if he can avoid any bad errors here then he should be capable of reversing the placings with Nesnaas and getting his head in front. Lawaaheb won well last time out at Fakenham when beating Approaching Land. However, that was a weak race and he looks to have more on his plate here. Bestam finished behind behind our selection at Warwick back in November, but he is better off at the weights today so he is another to consider, but New Currency has plenty in his favour here and is given the vote.
Formwatch
Front Rank (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Blundered and rider lost iron briefly 5th, always towards rear, 10th of 13, 32l behind Kilgowan (10-4) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (B) gd in Mar.
Bestam 9-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, 7th of 14, 19l behind Classic Event (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Mar.
Lawaaheb (IRE) 11-4fav (10-8) Soon tracked leader, led 3rd, clear 3 out, mistake next, eased flat, won at Fakenham 2m sll hdl (G) gd beating Approaching Land (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Compton Star 8-1 (11-9) In touch to 4th, soon behind, 10th of 14, 17l behind Little Rort (11-6) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl (F) gf in Apr.
New Currency (USA) 15-2 (11-9) In touch, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, blundered 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 9l behind Kentmere (11-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd.
Meadow Hawk (USA) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, no progress from 2 out, 9th of 17, 14l behind O'Toole (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Apr.
Shotacross The Bow (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened next, 8th of 17, 22l behind Damarisco (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Apr.
Nesnaas (USA) 15-2 (10-0) Held up, headway 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, not quicken flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Kentmere (11-0) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd.