Racecards
13:40 Towcester
Gg.com Novices' Hurdle (Class E )
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Form 51
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Trainer C Von Der Recke
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
- Form 3-1212
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey A P McCoy
with leader, led 3rd, hung left from approaching 5th, not fluent 6th, ridden 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on
- Form 0/00-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer John R Upson
- Jockey P Flynn
always behind
Jaunty Times
29- Form 5-23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra when mistake last, eased flat
- Form 64
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
in touch, lost place 3rd, no danger last
The Kirk (NZ)
186- Form 44
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer M Madgwick
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
keen, mid-division, headway 4th, joined winner 6th, ridden after next, weakening when mistake 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form R-0P0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer A Hollingsworth
- Jockey Mr P Cowley
in touch to 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Crackleando
BF- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd after 7th, 2 after next, weakened 2 out
- Form 25460
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 91
led, mistake and headed 3rd, weakened 6th
In depth
Verdict
Darkness stands out here and can land the opener ahead of Beanney, Crackleando and Bayou Princess. The Charlie Egerton-trained selection was a decent bumper performer and has carried that ability into hurdling, winning at Plumpton then finding just the smart The Listener too good for him last time. Back at this level, he holds outstanding claims. The German raider Beanney won well at Catterick on his British debut and, a winner on the Flat, should improve on that, but will need to in order to lower the selection's colours, while Crackleando was good enough to win over 14 furlongs at Nottingham during the last Flat season, albeit from a mark of 57. Bayou Princess has also hinted at ability, while, of the others, Jaunty Times has shown some promise in bumpers and one hurdling run, The Gangerman has shown bumper promise, and the New Zealand raider Kirk showed some ability in his home land. However, Darkness sets a good level for them to aim at and, consequently, he gets the vote.
Formwatch
Beanney (ARG) 9-1 Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led next, not fluent last, ridden out, won at Catterick 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Jan beating Crathorne by 3l, 16 ran.
Darkness 7-4fav Raced wide, tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, rallied run-in but held near finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind The Listener at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (D) sft in Jan.
Another Graduate (IRE) 150-1 Mid-division, ridden 4th, tailed off from 6th, 8th of 18, well behind Bagan at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gs in Jan.
Jaunty Times 25-1 Chased leaders, lost place 4th, hit 6th, headway approaching next, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 3rd of 11, 17l behind Star De Mohaison at Hereford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
The Gangerman (IRE) 10-1 Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 17, 14l behind Ain't That A Shame at Exeter 2m 1f mdn nhf (H) gs in Jan.
The Kirk (NZ) Finished 4th of 9, 16l behind Rainbow Chief in a maiden hurdle at Wanganui in August, 1m5f firm.
Crackleando 17-2 Led, ridden and headed over 5f out, weakened quickly, 12th of 13, 42l behind Boris The Spider at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (F4) fbs in Nov (Flat).
Bayou Princess 40-1 Mid-division, weakened 4th, 9th of 22, 43l behind Three Welshmen at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.