Racecards
13:15 Taunton
toteexacta Flexi Betting Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £4,111
- 2nd: £1,198
- 3rd: £599
- Form 431322
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leader, every chance 2 out, 3rd after, went well held 2nd after last until weakened to 3rd final 100 yards
Iolith (GER)
59- Form 69-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led approaching 2 out, in command before last, ridden clear flat
- Form 0-23371
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Miss C Dyson
- Jockey Ian Popham
chased leaders, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out, tailed off
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Harry Skelton
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway and in touch when pushed wide on bend after 3 out, chased leaders before next, weakened before last
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, pushed along after 5th, pushed wide on bend after 3 out, weakened soon after
- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear, never in contention, tailed off
Hawkaller
41- Form 68
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Rachael Green
led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened before last
- Form F-150
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R P McLernon
chased leaders, slow and driven 6th, weakened next, tailed off
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
mistake 1st, took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd and every chance 2 out, held when blundrered last, weakened and not recover flat
- Form 23-9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey A Glassonbury
mid-division, pushed along 3 out, ridden and no impression next
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey W Marston
held up towards rear, headway when switched sharply left on bend after 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, stayed on well flat to 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
- Form 5450
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey D R Dennis
always behind, driven and struggling 3 out, tailed off
- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D C Costello
held up towards rear, some headway into modest 7th when mistake 2 out
Our Flora
82- Form 8
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey Charles Greene
always behind, struggling 3 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
The three previous winners set a decent standard in this, though Peqeno Diablo has his first start for a new stable having landed a maiden hurdle at Clonmel in October for Brian Jordan. Connections of Crystal Rock will be hoping for a change of fortune with the five-year-old having found one too good at both Kempton and Cheltenham last month. But the interesting one could be IOLITH, who was a fair performer on the Flat in Germany and cane good at the third time of asking over timber at Kempton. That was his first start for nine months so it will be a surprise if there's not more in the locker. Swinging Hawk shaped nicely at Aintree and is another to note along with newcomers Ange Guerrier and Reginaldinho.
Formwatch
Crystal Rock (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 3 out, strongly pressed soon after, kept on under pressure from last, caught on post, 2nd of 19, shd behind Devil To Pay (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Iolith (GER) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, challenged next, led between last 2, not fluent last, driven and kept on flat, won at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Ballinteni (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
Peqeno Diablo (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Always prominent, led before 5 out, ridden and joined 3 out, headed before 2 out, rallied to regain lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Clonmel 2m 5yo mdn hdl in Oct beating Ordinary Man (11-4) by 1l, 9 ran.
Ange Guerrier (FR) (9-1) won at Deauville(FR) 1m 4f stk pol in Oct '09 beating Grandretour (9-1) by 2l, 9 ran (flat).
Cool Strike (UAE) 13-2 (9-4) Tracked winner, joined winner 8f out until over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 7l behind Spirit Is Needed (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f clm stks (4) gd in Sep (flat).
E Street Boy 3-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 7f out, chased leader 6f out, one pace final 2f, 4th of 14, 19l behind Midnight Macarena (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Jun.
Hawkaller 100-1 (10-7) Always in rear, 8th of 12, well behind Frascati Park (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Master Milan (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 4th, behind from 3 out, 14th of 16, well behind Prince Of Pirates (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd.
Reginaldinho (UAE) (9-13) 3rd of 18, 4 1/2l behind Mister Gibraltar (9-4) at Clairefontaine(FR) 1m 4f stk in Aug (flat).
Shammick Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) With leaders, lost place 5f out, soon behind, 9th of 13, 36l behind Lucky Landing (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Nov.
Spirit Is Needed (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Soon pushed along in rear, never a factor, 13th of 16, 13l behind Vulcanite (8-10) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gs in Oct (flat).
Superior Knight 66-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, in touch until weakened 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, 44l behind High Benefit (10-5) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Swinging Hawk (GER) 33-1 (11-8) Held up behind, headway on inside 3 out, effort when not fluent next, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Midnight Opera (11-1) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Our Flora 33-1 (9-13) Always behind, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Silviniaco Conti (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.