Racecards
14:30 Taunton
Royal Bath & West Novices' Chase (Class E)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 022313
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
towards rear, driven to chase leaders from 3rd, hit 10th, soon led, ridden clear after 4 out, hit 2 out, stayed on well
- Form P42-051
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer S Burrough
- Jockey A Honeyball
led until 6th, ridden and weakening when blundered 13th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form R0-4FF2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
held up behind, steady headway from 11th, went 2nd after 3 out, stayed on but no chance with winner
- Form 3P6203
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
in touch when clipped heels and brought down on bend after 7th
- Form P/0P-U4P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer N Hawke
- Jockey Xavier Aizpuru
chased leaders, mistake 4th, gradually lost touch, hit 10th, tailed off
Friar Peter
14- Form PPPU
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, blundered 1st, mistake 7th, soon carried out on bend
- Form 00PPU/P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey P Holley
always towards rear, tailed off
- Form 114-4UP
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
never jumped fluently, towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden after 9th, behind and pulled up before 12th
- Form 3-3PPP4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer C Down
- Jockey J P McNamara
in touch when pulled up before 6th
- Form 5302-5U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer P Hedger
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up rear, headway from 8th, chased leaders from 11th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
Opal Ridge
439- Form 312/4-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey M Batchelor
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, joined winner 13th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 450PP/P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer Mrs P Ford
- Jockey R Young
in touch until 10th, soon behind
- Form 2202PF
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey K Burke
chased leaders, mistakes 4th and 12th, close 3rd when blundered 14th, soon ridden, kept on same pace
In depth
Verdict
After a dubious start to his chasing career Double Honour is now beginning to look more like the finished article over the larger obstacles and is taken to resume winning ways at the main expense of Millcroft Seaspray and Oliver Cromwell. The selection was just short of top class on the flat and soon made up into a useful performer over hurdles but has taken time to reproduce a similar level of form over fences. However, the son of Highest Honor showed when winning at Newbury in January that he should be more than capable of holding his own in this sort of company and lost no caste in defeat behind the potentially top class Our Vic at Ascot last month. Millcroft Seaspray has only completed three times from six starts over fences and is difficult to recommend in his current form and a bigger threat may come from Oliver Cromwell. Peter Hedger's gelding has some respectable form in handicaps and, the selection apart, this looks easier. Course and distance winner Pamela Anshan, who had Alcatras just behind then, may struggle under her penalty and of more interest may be Watch The Dove who was a faller in that race but had earlier shown signs of ability. However, Double Honour is the clear form pick and should take plenty of beating.