Racecards
17:50 Stratford
John Smith's Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 125y
- Going: Good (Good to Furm in places, selectively watered)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
- Form 30-4909
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer B Cawley
- Jockey Alain Cawley
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 12th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up after 2 out
- Form 5/09442-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Mike Hammond
- Jockey S Bowen
chased leaders, weakened 12th, behind when pulled up before last
- Form 58-9374
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer G Hanmer
- Jockey Brendan Powell
mid-division, headway before 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
- Form 54P32F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer S-J Davies
- Jockey Charlie Hammond
prominent, led 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra closing stages
- Form 143047
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Alexandra Dunn
- Jockey R Flint
held up in touch, mistake 11th, blundered 13th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 67103B
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey M G Nolan
held up towards rear, struggling 11th, headway 3 out, never on terms
- Form 46PP-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey James Best
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge
- Form P5-U4FP
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey C Gethings
behind, blundered 12th, headway 3 out, never a threat
- Form 578-466
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 13th, led before last, pushed clear, comfortably
Flying Gnu
29- Form 6/U-1257
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Mark Wall
- Jockey Matt Griffiths
prominent, driven to challenge after 2 out, stayed on same pace closing stages
- Form 74-3976
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer G R I Smyly
- Jockey Dave Crosse
led until 3 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
High Counsel probably ran a bit better than expected behind Trillerin Minella at Market Rasen last month and a similar effort here would put him in the picture. Provincial Pride would have claims on his form of last summer but has a lengthy absence to overcome. REPLACEMENT PLAN was just starting to close on the leaders when brought down by the fall of Whos De Baby here a couple of weeks ago. Providing that hasn't affected his confidence, Richard Woollacott's seven-year-old can get back to winning ways.
Formwatch
Froggy (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Soon towards rear, pushed along briefly after 5th, 10th approaching straight, soon no extra, 9th of 15, dist behind Supreme Vic (10-11) at Killarney 2m 5f hcp gd in Jul.
Provincial Pride (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 11th, mistake 4 out, 4 lengths down before last, closed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Moorlands George (11-3) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
High Counsel (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led into start, mid-division 3rd, closed before 3 out, 4th before 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Trillerin Minella (10-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Whos De Baby (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hampered 1st, not fluent when challenging 12th, fell next, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Fine Resolve 3-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling when not fluent 7th, well behind 4 out, 7th of 9, 26 1/2l behind Anti Cool (10-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Replacement Plan (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Held up, in touch at rear of group when brought down 13th, at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Whimsical Notion 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 7th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Acadian (FR) 66-1 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, lost place 3rd, hit 5th, mistake next, ridden 9th, not fluent next, behind 11th, pulled up before 12th, at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in Jul.
Mister Dick (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 10, dist behind Sporting Milan (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Flying Gnu 66-1 (11-0) Prominent, not fluent 10th, lost place next, weakened 12th, 7th of 8, dist behind Mr Shantu (11-7) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in Jul.
Henry Oliver (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, well beaten after 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Claude Carter (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (5) gd in Aug.