Racecards
17:00 Towcester
Goodrich 'national Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 03P/113-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
chased leaders, driven along approaching 8th, weakened after 3 out
Comber (IRE)
172- Form 454P40-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey W Marston
took keen hold, mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on well flat to lead last strides
- Form P04-P69
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey D Elsworth
in rear, headway on outside approaching 7th, slightly outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat
- Form B50-322
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C T Pogson
- Jockey A Pogson
pulled hard, held up, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 77985-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, no progress, mistake 2 out
- Form 7597P-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer B N Pollock
- Jockey Mr A Merriam
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, ridden 8th, stayed on approaching 2 out, never dangerous
- Form 77P62-6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Paul Benson
chased leader, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, not fluent last, no extra
- Form 3-5FP03
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 82
led, ridden and just under 4 lengths ahead 2 out, headed last strides
Madam Harriet
199- Form 792446-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 82
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 07795-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer G R I Smyly
- Jockey T Messenger
in rear, stumbled and unseated rider on bend after 6th
- Form 080210
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 9P-P787
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 02P6PP-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey P Kinsella
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
Blejan Eyhre
31- Form 77047
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 47/372-7
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 77
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Big Rob, Flash Cummins and Thimblesfirth look the three to concentrate on in the finale and the vote is given to Big Rob. The selection is rated much higher over fences. He returns to hurdles on a lenient mark and under conditions that suit he is taken to regain the winning thread. Flash Cummins rates the main danger on his latest third behind Florida Dream in a chase. However his best form is over a longer trip and he looks vulnerable under top weight. Thimblesfirth was second behind Felinious last time and he is another with place claims but he looks weighted up to his best. Princess of Spurs has place claims on her best form but disappointed for no apparent reason last time out so cannot be put forward with much confidence. However the return to hurdles could spark a revival. Of the remainder Native City is unexposed and is from a shrewd in-form yard so should be watched in the market but for the winner we return to Big Rob who has plenty of ticks in the right boxes.
Formwatch
Flash Cummins (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 10th, 5 lengths down in 3rd when stumbled 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Florida Dream (11-7) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Comber (IRE) 17-2 (11-10) Mid-division, behind from 7th, 13th of 17, well behind Waldo's Dream (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Big Rob (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, towards rear when blundered 7th, soon behind, 9th of 12, 45l behind Willies Way (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Sept.
Thimblesfirth (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Went prominent 3rd, led after 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, kept on, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Felinious (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f mrs nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Native City (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, hit 4th and 6th, plugged on, 5th of 9, 16l behind All Sonsilver (10-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb.
Little Shilling (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened 5th, 15th of 16, well behind Holiday Cocktail (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Sept.
Devils And Dust (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Chased leaders to 11th, 6th of 13, 27l behind Ad Murum (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Big John Macarty (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 17, 8l behind Galandora (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Madam Harriet 5-1 (10-13) Chased leader until just before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 10, 27l behind Heavenly Chorus (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (5) gf in Mar.
Dearsha (FR) 18-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, never near leaders, 5th of 12, 18l behind Macreater (10-2) at Towcester 2m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Princess of Spurs (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Behind and lost touch 7th, last of 12, well behind Lusaka De Pembo (11-7) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Aug.
Madam Blaze 50-1 (10-11) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 15, 13l behind Armoury House (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Double Ells 11-1 (10-11) Keen, in touch to 6th, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Something Silver (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Mar, 18 ran.
Blejan Eyhre 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 2 out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 16l behind Artic Bliss (10-5) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Nannys Gift (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders and keen, weakening after 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Ashwell (11-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in May.