Racecards
16:00 Towcester
Epson Handicap Hurdle (Class F)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form F0-U292
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
with winner, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on flat
- Form 1694/9-7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J Gallagher
- Jockey O McPhail
always towards rear
- Form 88P461
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey A Glassonbury
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on flat
- Form 14-549
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
always towards rear
- Form 187/56-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, not quicken flat
Kinkeel (IRE)
195- Form 640978-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey N D Fehily
keen, mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 4P2U3-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs L Hill
- Jockey Dave Crosse
always towards rear
- Form 10/P00-5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey A O'keeffe
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 6-94743
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey P J Brennan
made virtually all, jumped left 2 out and last, driven out
- Form 023614
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
behind, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, never nearer
- Form P-8470U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer D L Williams
- Jockey Miss L Horner
always behind
Libre
381- Form 600/55-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer F Jordan
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after next
- Form 751347
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer W Jenks
- Jockey C Llewellyn
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, weakened quickly 3 out
City Palace
39- Form U09-7
- Age 4
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 4/74465
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer Miss Z C Davison
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, 5th and beaten when hit last
In depth
Verdict
The shortlist contains Murphy's Nails, Honan, Reflex Blue and Hi Laurie, with the vote going to Hi Laurie. Now with Michael Scudamore, the selection won at Kilbeggan in September and then ran well from her revised mark at Listowel last time. That rates as fair form in the context of this race and she can go well. Honan is a bit in-and-out formwise, but he won at Plumpton last time and remains well-weighted based on his chasing form, while Murphy's Nails made a pleasing reappearance effort and is on a mark from which he should have a say on his overall form. And Reflex Blue won from a pound higher mark in January 2004 and, having had a recent pipe-opener, can go well. Of the others, Bronco Charlie is a lightly-raced potential Jonjo O'Neill improver, Treasure Trail is dropping in the weights and could yet build on his novice promise, Kinkeel showed some promise in Ireland but the jury is out after one British run, Double Royal's improvement last time came in a seller, and Fenney Spring has a place shout from an eight-pounds higher rating than for winning at Uttoxeter in June. Finally, we should give a mention to Spider Boy, who ran well for a long way over a longer trip last time, his first real piece of form, and is tried in cheekpieces today. However, for the selection, we will stick with Hi Laurie.
Formwatch
Murphy's Nails (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 6th, headed 7th, ridden to lead again 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Michaels Dream (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Sept.
Honan (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, ridden and edged left on bend after 3 out, headway soon after, kept on to lead last, won at Plumpton 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in Sept beating Let's Celebrate (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Bronco Charlie (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) In touch until weakened after 5th, 9th of 13, 19l behind Giust In Temp (10-9) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (E) gf in Aug.
Treasure Trail 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division, closer order 6th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 15, 10l behind Fordingbridge (11-11) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Apr.
Double Royal (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden after 7th, outpaced after next, stayed on flat, 4th of 15, 5l behind Euro Route (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (G) gf in Sept.
Young Tot (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Seafire Lad (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf in Jul.
Hi Laurie (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, 8th approaching 6 out, kept on without threatening under pressure from before 2 out, 4th of 17, 2 1/2l behind Baikal (10-11) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp hdl 67-102 gd in Sept.
Fenney Spring 9-2 (10-12) Never in contention, 7th of 11, 27l behind Baawrah (10-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gd in Aug.