Racecards
14:10 Towcester
Towcester Racecourse Ladies Evening 29th May Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Felix de Giles
in touch and keen, joined leaders 2 out, driven to lead close home
- Form 090
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C P Morlock
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up and keen, weakened after 5th
Pasdelou (FR)
399- Form 0/F5-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
led, ridden after 3 out, weakening when headed last
- Form P32U3U
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D L Williams
- Jockey R Greene
awkward 1st, lost place, behind from 3rd, jumped left 4th, losing touch when hampered next, pulled up before 2 out
Russian Epic
22- Form 73
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey M D Grant
held up mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 2 out, led and hit last, headed close home
- Form 5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey D R Dennis
held up, mistake 6th, steady headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon held
Terragon
42- Form 7/P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M McMillan
- Jockey J Mogford
tracked leaders, weakening when mistake approaching 6th, pulled up before 3 out
Thompson
15- Form 008
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in rear, ridden and plugged on from 3 out
Wilkinson (IRE)
139- Form 39-87
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey L Stephens
in rear when fell 5th
Annies Castle
716- Form 990/
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer F E Sutherland
- Jockey Dave Crosse
in rear, mistake and reminders 1st, mistake again 3rd, soon lost touch and pulled up before 5th
Edgevine
18- Form 0-953
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey S Thomas
mid-division, ridden 4 out, closer order and wandered approaching 3 out, soon hard ridden, plugged on, one pace
- Form 400-P8
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer B I Case
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leader, ridden and weakened after 3 out
- Form P40-6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer Edgar Byrne
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in rear, hampered and mistake 4th, lost touch and reminders after 5th, pulled up before 7th
- Form 0946
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, mistake 3rd, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
In depth
Verdict
After a pleasing debut Nicky Henderson's HORSEFORD HILL has our confidence to dump the maiden's tag at only the second time of asking with Russian Epic rated as the danger and Rockandahardplace, the best of the rest. A dual winner on the level, including taking a handicap off a mark of 78, the selection started life well in this sphere by claiming a place in a similar race. He may have even won that day had he not blundered when in contention three out and we can expect him to improve from that and a clear round will have him in the winner's enclosure. Russian Epic was also a dual winner on the flat and his best form would have him closely behind the selection. That said he is a little bit more experienced over timber but has failed to impress in two novice events which is why the vote goes elsewhere. Rockandahardplace only just missed out at Fontwell last time in his second start. It was an improved effort from his debut, a bumper, and we can expect more again. Edgevine is also looking progressive and was a remote third in a 13 runner field here last time out and could find some more prize money. Street warrior has bits and pieces of form on the level last year and was solid on his timber bow. He had a pipe-opener two weeks ago at Doncaster on the flat after over a year out which should have set him straight. What potentially could have been a really tricky start to the day has been tempered slightly by the presence of the selection Horseford Hill.
Formwatch
Horseford Hill 11-8fav (11-0) Prominent, raced keenly, led after 4th, headed next, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out where mistake, weakened flat, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Supreme de Paille (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Kahyasi Jack (IRE) 150-1 (11-1) Chased leader until after 6th, weakened before next, 12th of 18, well behind Lindeman (10-8) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Pasdelou (FR) 7-2 (12-0) Ld/disp until 3rd 6out, cl 2nd 2out & chall with ev ch at last until no ex bef turn in, wknd badly, 5th of 10, 16l behind Project Gallery (12-0) at Lismore 3m ire ptp in Mar '08.
Ridiculousdecision (IRE) (12-0) Prom til ur 8, in a race won by Wheedle (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp in Mar, 4 ran.
Russian Epic 20-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 4 out, chasing leaders and ridden approaching 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, weakened and no chance with first 2 approaching last, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Riverside Theatre (11-6) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Street Warrior (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) In touch and keen, ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 24l behind Izita Star (10-8) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Terragon 12-1 (12-0) Bhnd when pu 11, in a race won by Mocho (12-0) at Dunthrop 3m ptp in Mar, 10 ran.
Thompson 100-1 (11-1) Towards rear, some progress approaching 3rd, 8th of 15, 20l behind Kangaroo Court (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Wilkinson (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up, reminders 5th, ridden 3 out and soon behind, 7th of 9, well behind Tragic Realm (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov.
Annies Castle 66-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 7f out, held off, 14th of 15, well behind Covert Mission (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Apr '07.
Edgevine 9-1 (10-10) Prominent, went 2nd 6th until 8th, 2nd again briefly 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 12, 30l behind Speed Bonnie Boat (10-10) at Towcester 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Estrica (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, struggling from 7th, 8th of 12, 47l behind Key Cutter (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Lillinga (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Always rear division, tailed off, 6th of 13, well behind City Theatre (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Capital City (IRE) 33-1 (10-3) Led, ridden and headed 4f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 12l behind Penyfan Dawn (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f NH flat (6) fm in Mar.
Rockandahardplace (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leading pair, outpaced 6th, left 20 lengths 2nd 2 out, stayed on well from last, just failed, 2nd of 4, nk behind Highest Esteem (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Act Three 14-1 (10-7) Behind, headway from 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 15, 44l behind Izita Star (11-5) at Chepstow 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.