Racecards
15:00 Towcester
Jewson Novices' Hurdle (qualifier) (Class 3)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 453-111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
led to 2nd, chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 94358-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on flat
- Form 70P8-21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer C N Allen
- Jockey R Garritty
always towards rear
- Form P0915-7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer C C Bealby
- Jockey T Messenger
prominent, led after 2nd to 3rd, mistake 5th, one pace from 3 out
- Form P42
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, one pace flat
Ball Boy
266- Form F0-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G Haine
- Jockey T J Phelan
hampered bend after 3rd, always behind
- Form 8/287-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C Llewellyn
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, mistake 1st, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Darwaz (IRE)
289- Form 039-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer D R Gandolfo
- Jockey T Doyle
led 2nd, soon headed, chased leaders, ridden and mistake 2 out, no extra flat
- Form 353
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer B W Duke
- Jockey L P Aspell
mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression when mistake last
Hot Zone (IRE)
178- Form 654-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey D Elsworth
behind, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on, never reached leaders
- Form P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
took keen hold, in rear when fell bend after 3rd
Moon Star (GER)
1097- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey L P Aspell
unruly start, always behind, tailed off when refused 3rd
My Immortal
158- Form 62D263-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
with leaders, led 3rd, clear 2 out, comfortably
Sexy Rexy (IRE)
178- Form 662-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Antony Evans
mid-division, mistake 4th, ridden and headway 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, blundered last, stayed on
- Form 5/FF
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
keen, in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
A wide-open affair on paper can go to Millennium Hall, with Najca de Thaix, Art Modern, The Rocking Dock and My Immortal just a few more to mention. Millennium Hall finally opened his account over timber in easy fashion at Perth a fortnight ago, a pleasing result given his earlier poor form on the level. The switch has obviously rekindled his enthusiasm, and Lucinda Russell's charge is a sporting choice. Najca de Thaix battled his heart out to defy topweight over the course-and-distance in June but has been off since. He will be all the better for the run, while Art Modern in contrast ran well just 17 days ago when second at Plumpton, and based on his Flat exploits, may have more to offer. The Rocking Dock rattled up three successes over timber in the summer and was put away with a view to eventually going over fences. That move will no doubt depend on how he shapes up here, and he is an interesting runner along with My Immortal, sixth at the Cheltenham Festival and who returns from a six-month break. Cistercian is on a retrieval mission after falling three out when gambled on at Fontwell last month and is another that is open to improvement. All in all, this is a decent race in which only a narrow vote goes to Millennium Hall who can put his fitness to good use.
Formwatch
Dhehdaah 13-2 (11-10) In touch and keen, mistake 6th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 8l behind Tamreen (10-12) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr.
The Rocking Dock (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Always prominent, led and mistake 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Jun beating Royal Stardust (11-0) by 2l, 12 ran.
Millennium Hall 9-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led before 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Sept beating Newton Bridge (10-12) by 12l, 15 ran.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Prominent and raced wide, led 2nd, ridden and headed after 3 out, led again 2 out, ran on, won at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jun beating Calomeria (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Art Modern (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up, steady headway 3 out, challenged next, driven upsides early flat, readily held final 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Kings Quay (11-5) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Darwaz (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) With leaders, mistake 2nd, hit next, lost place 5th, soon behind, 9th of 17, 25l behind Gidam Gidam (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gf in Dec.
Grand Display (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 6th, effort next, went 3rd after 3 out, no further impression, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Key Phil (10-2) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Sept.
My Immortal 9-1 (10-8) Took keen hold, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, held when blundered last, kept on, 3rd of 17, 7l behind Hasty Prince (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Apr.