Racecards
15:20 Taunton
Greenslade Taylor Hunt Charity 'NH' Novices' Hurdle (Div 1) (Class E)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form F/000
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T J Malone
held up last, ridden 4th, weakening when fell 6th
- Form 2/4-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, soon weakened
- Form 0P-62
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up in mid-division, headway from 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
- Form 00-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B J M Ryall
- Jockey J Tizzard
mid-division, hung badly left and dropped to rear approaching 6th, headway from 3 out, shaken up and ran on well from last, nearest finish
- Form 08
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
prominent, left in lead after 5th, headed 7th, ridden and soon weakened
- Form 1/30P-1
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M G Rimell
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leader, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on from last
Powra
302- Form 00UPP-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
prominent, weakened 6th, mistake and hampered 7th, tailed off when mistake 3 out
Private Be
16- Form 222
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led, mistake 2nd, swerved badly left headed and tried to run off course after 5th, led again 7th, ridden 2 out, hung left from last, driven out
Aber Gale
264- Form 06F-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Mrs S M Johnson
- Jockey James Davies
pulled early and held up towards rear, fell 7th
Logies Lass
17- Form 7704P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer J S Smith
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up in mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
A very weak race in which Private Be is nominated ahead of Pearly Bay. Private Be finished second to Craven at Newbury in a maiden hurdle and did everything but win on the day. He looked to have them cooked off the home turn but folded dramatically inside the final 100 metres. Its possible that he ran up against a smart recruit on that day so we will put him up in a weaker contest. Pearly Bay lost her way when sent to Paul Nicholls. A return to Mark Rimell's yard appeared to work the oracle and she won a valuable Novice Hurdle at the track in November. The forecast overnight rain will not help her chances and Private Be is much stronger opposition than what she faced previously. Connections are taking no chances with the booking of AP McCoy. Earth Moving is difficult to evaluate in relation to this contest. His second in a Chepstow bumper was in a very slow time and under an incredibly patient ride. He is watched in the market. Dodger McCartney is back after a long absence while Martin Pipe's two entries have shown little worthwhile form this term. Private Be secures our selection.
Formwatch
Castletown Lad 50-1 (11-5) Held up, struggling before halfway, soon tailed off, last of 12, well behind Warningcamp (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft.
Dodger McCartney 4-1 (11-4) Held up, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, stayed on one pace, 4th of 15, 5l behind That's For Sure (11-2) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gf in Jul '04.
Earth Moving (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In rear, steady headway from 4f out, chased winner from 1f out, soon ridden, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Zanzibar Boy (11-4) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Michigan d'Isop (FR) 66-1 (11-1) Always well behind, 12th of 14, well behind Sommelier (11-4) at Chepstow 2m nhf (H) sft in Mar.
Nelson du Ronceray (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, led before 2nd, headed before next, weakened quickly 5th, soon tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind In Media Res (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (E) sft.
Pearly Bay 9-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, pecked 6th, led 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (C) gf in Nov beating Miss Midnight (10-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
Powra 125-1 (11-2) Pulled hard and chased leader, reminder 5th, ran off track and pulled up 5 out in race won by Martha's Kinsman (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (D) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
Private Be 7-2 (11-2) Led, 5 lengths ahead when hit last, driven flat, caught towards finish, 2nd of 25, 1/2l behind Craven (11-2) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (E) gs.