Racecards
13:50 Towcester
Lambert Smith Hampton Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 015UP-2
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey R Stephens
tracked leaders, ridden from 8th, kept on until weakened last
- Form 365579-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey P C O'Neill
in touch, headway when hit 6th, tracked leader from next, led approaching 3 out, soon clear
- Form 511/7-P7
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 113
mid-division, lost place 5th, soon behind, tailed off before 2 out
- Form 626173-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer S J Gilmore
- Jockey R Thornton
held up rear, weakened from 7th, lost touch, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 21237R-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J R Norton
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, soon lost place, pulled up 7th
- Form 0722/61-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
led and jumped left, headed after 8th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 16566-6
- Age 10
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J R Norton
- Jockey Mr S F Magee
held up rear, stayed on from 4 out but no chance
- Form 2055-36
- Age 5
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey L P Aspell
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 0141-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Our shortlist contains Glacial Evening, Barrys Ark and Szeroki Bor, and we will side with the last-named. Glacial Evening returned for the season with a good second at Plumpton last time and remains competitive despite having been raised three pounds for that. After Eight competed well at a higher novice level last season and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a handicap, while Jacdor is better known as a chaser these days. Mnason has something to prove from a nine-pounds higher mark than for his course and distance win, while Barrys Ark is interesting at the first time of asking in a handicap, having won a maiden hurdle here. Huntingdon maiden hurdle winner, Szeroki Bor, has also to be considered, while Ireland's Eye is now four pounds below the mark of his December 2004 Leicester win. Keep an eye on the betting but, for what it's worth, we will side with Szeroki Bor.
Formwatch
Glacial Evening (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, switched left soon after last, stayed on well, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Touch of Fate (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct.
After Eight (GER) 9-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, weakened under pressure after 3 out, 9th of 17, 18l behind Yes Sir (11-9) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Apr.
Mnason (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Held up, steady headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Archie Babe (11-7) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) sft in Mar.
Abzuson 15-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, 21 lengths down in 3rd and no impression when refused at the last in race won by Bellaney Jewel (10-5) at Hexham 3m nh nov hdl (E) gs in Apr, 10 ran.
Szeroki Bor (POL) 4-5fav (11-2) Made all, shaken up, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f mdn hdl (E) gf in Jun '04 beating Dormy Two (10-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
Monsieur Georges (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place after 6th, no danger after, 6th of 13, 27l behind Drumbeater (10-11) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Oct.
Dubai Ace (USA) 5-2fav (10-13) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 9th, chased winner 3 out until 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 16, 33l behind Like A Lord (10-12) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (E) gf in Jun.
Barrys Ark (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (E) gs in Mar beating Ballyjohnboy Lord (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.