Racecards
17:00 Towcester
Epson 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 032-154
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leaders, ridden when pegged 2f out, stayed on same pace
- Form 6444-43
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
with leader, led 6f to 7f, every chance 3f out, soon ridden, hung left and hit last, weakened flat
New Time (IRE)
218- Form 8/1389P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, headway 8f, led approaching 3f out, all out
- Form F46364
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey B Hitchcott
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, every chance last, ran on
- Form 00/56-75
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer M Appleby
- Jockey T Messenger
led to 6f, led again 7f, ridden and headed approaching 3f out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Brigadier Benson looks the one here, with New Time and The Gangerman looking best of the others. The selection proved himself good enough to take a novice hurdle last season and he looked to have more to come when running fourth on his seasonal return, a race that, in any case, he probably needed. He looks well up to winning races and can take what does not look to be a strong event. Much as he has a higher mark over fences, Romany Dream does not seem as effective over hurdles, although he has some placed efforts to his name, while despite having won a Stratford bumper in September 2004, the Jonjo O'Neill-trained New Time's form then tailed off, although he cannot be ruled out as the stable's horses were under a cloud for much of last season. From the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard, it would be no surprise to see The Gangerman step up on the modicum of promise he has shown to date this time around. However, with Munny Hill being hard to fancy, Brigadier Benson looks to be the one they all have to beat.
Formwatch
Brigadier Benson (IRE) 5-1co-fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 13l behind Burundi (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in Sept.
The Gangerman (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, rallied and kept on approaching last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Charlies Double (10-2) at Fakenham 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (E) gf in May.
New Time (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Isard du Buard (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) sft in Mar, 16 ran.
Romany Dream 9-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 11th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 12l behind Thalys (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Sept.
Munny Hill 33-1 (10-9) In touch, hit 1st ridden after 11th, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 36l behind Midnight Creek (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m sll hdl (G) gd.