Racecards
15:20 Taunton
British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 1y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,330
- 2nd: £1,870
- 3rd: £935
- 4th: £468
- Form 70-2142
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
raced keenly, tracked leader, led before 2 out, went right and headed 2 out, held when went right again last, no extra in 3rd run-in
- Form 2-581
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
always towards rear, never on terms, went poor 5th run-in, tailed off
- Form 0214U1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey J McGrath
chased leaders, travelling well after 3 out, challenging when squeezed for room before 2 out, led and went right 2 out, clear when went right again last, easily
- Form 1-120
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
jumped left, led until before 2 out and dropped to 3rd, 2nd again run-in, no chance with winner
- Form 045
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Harry Reed
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off
Little Acorn
28- Form 4/7-55
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer H Fry
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 7th, pushed along and one pace in 4th from 3 out
- Form 49/P84
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
mistake 1st, chased leaders, not fluent 4th, weakened 7th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
- Form 460
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
always towards rear, never involved, tailed off
- Form 9
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B Barr
- Jockey Michael Heard
held up until badly hampered and unseated rider 3rd
- Form 4-310
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Ian Popham
took keen hold, held up towards rear, some headway 5th, outpaced 3 out, tailed off
Vitarra
483- Form 70/80-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A J Wilson
- Jockey M Hamill
chased leaders until fell 3rd
- Form 0090
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer W G M Turner
- Jockey David Prichard
mistake 1st, never travelled towards rear, behind and struggling after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey James Best
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, pushed along and weakened after 7th, tailed off
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
As mares’ novices’ hurdle go, this looks quite competitive. There are four previous winners in the line-up with Cajun Fiddle, only beaten a head in a handicap at Doncaster last month, already having earned an official rating of 125. VERDANA BLUE was always travelling best when making most at Hereford last time. She’s probably capable of following up in this slightly better race if allowed her own way out in front again as she holds Leicester fourth Little Acorn on collateral form. Whatduhavtoget was outclassed in a Class 3 handicap at Cheltenham last time but should do better here on an earlier second to La Bague Au Roi at Wetherby but Midnight Glory was probably a lucky winner at Newbury as the odds-on favourite fell when cantering and she only stayed on through beaten horses.
Formwatch
Cajun Fiddle (IRE) 2-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, closed 3 out, led next, edged right before last, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 4, hd behind Graceful Legend (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Midnight Glory 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, closed 7th, 4th and ridden after 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, 6 lengths down last, soon closed, led flat stayed on, won at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Jan beating Pearl Royale (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Verdana Blue (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Led, headed after 1st, led after 2nd until 4th, led before 5th, not fluent 3 out, edged right flat, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Ruby Yeats (11-6) by 3l, 13 ran.
Whatduhavtoget (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, well beaten after 2 out, 10th of 13, 37l behind Kapstadt (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Dites Rien (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, went right next, 5th of 15, dist behind Fly Camp (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Little Acorn 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear on outside, not always fluent, closed 4th, one pace before 2 out, 5th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Sister Sibyl (11-8) at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Spy In The Sky 28-1 (11-3) Disputed lead to after 3rd, in touch, outpaced after 3 out, ridden after next, 4th and beaten when mistake last, 4th of 6, 25l behind Little Miss Poet (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Squeaky 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, well beaten from 4 out, 12th of 16, dist behind Mariah's Legend (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn (4) gs in Jan.
Theatre Royale 50-1 (11-2) Held up and behind, pushed along over 3f out, never on terms, 9th of 14, 22 1/4l behind Polly's Pursuit (11-2) at Lingfield 2m (6) pol in Jan.
Timetobenefit (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 14th of 18, dist behind Dame Rose (10-3) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) gs in Jan.
Vitarra 150-1 (10-7) Mid-division, struggling final 8f, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Criq Rock (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f (6) gd in Oct.
Mylyny 200-1 (10-0) Hampered 1st, mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 15, dist behind Shantou Rock (11-3) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Sapphire Noire (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, pushed along over 5f out, soon outpaced, 15th of 18, dist behind Dame Rose (10-3) at Doncaster 2m 1f (6) gs in Jan.