Racecards
17:00 Towcester
Lambert Smith Hampton 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good
The Bar Maid
178- Form 2PP202-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Mrs G Harvey
- Jockey A P McCoy
led to 3rd, led again 6th, ridden after 3 out, driven out
- Form 50203-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
with winner, led 3rd, headed and jumpled slowly 6th, mistake 7th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 53020-F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer R Buckler
- Jockey B Hitchcott
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd after 7th, ridden and switched left approaching 2 out, no extra flat
- Form 400-446
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden approaching 8th, soon weakened
- Form 0U1050
- Age 3
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up and behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, weakening when mistake last
- Form 10P34
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
tracked leaders, hit 4th, ridden and mistake 8th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form PP-P063
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on
- Form 0/P0P-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
in touch, lost place after 5th, soon behind
In depth
Verdict
We will take a chance on Breaking Ball here, who gets the call over Wood Lord, Star Time, Dd's Glenalla and, possibly, Little Mick. The Venetia Williams-trained selection came to England with a good reputation following a Limerick bumper win. Overall, it has to be said that he has been disappointing but this is his level for now. Furthermore, his heart seems to be in the right place and it is not his fault that he does not possess too many gears. However, his rating seems a fair one and first-time blinkers might just prove the deciding factor today. A winner in France, Wood Lord must have really disappointed connections so far in three runs over here, but it is always dangerous to dismiss the chances of a Martin Pipe runner at this type of level. Star Time reappears quickly following a probably best-yet performance behind Golden Odyssey at Market Rasen three days ago and, if he is on an upward curve now, should go well again. Little Mick caught the eye staying on late last time so do not be surprised if he improves again, while the assessment of Ashwell might read, lightly raced but has shown some promise. Dd's Glenalla has suffered for some good efforts in defeat but holds place claims once again, while I Hear Thunder is certainly the type to improve with race, and is another Buckler embryo chaser. Assumetheposition would be interesting if there was a market move for him but, overall, the vote goes to Breaking Ball.