Racecards
18:05 Towcester
Volkswagen Touareg Maiden Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Form 00-6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in mid-division, closed 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 342487-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P A Pritchard
- Jockey M Bradburne
made virtually all, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, swerved to avoid false rail flat, all out
- Form 40/3P63-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Mrs L Hill
- Jockey S P Jones
disputed lead with winner until approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out
Shergill (IRE)
136- Form 7/4448-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
tracked leaders, bumped 6th, soon went 3rd, switched left just before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form R/12134-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 8th, chased winner after 3 out, awkward jump 2 out, kept on flat
- Form 970P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey T Siddall
held up in rear, struggling 8th, behind when blundered 3 out, unseated rider several strides after
- Form 0PP-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
tubed, held up in rear, lost touch approaching 6th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 8th
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey C Poste
tracked leading pair, mistakes, jumped right 6th, lost place before next, weakened approaching 3 out
In depth
Verdict
The Hairy Mutt is taken to win the opener at the expense of Shergill and Quelclasse. The selection is a previous winner between the flags and was good enough to win a bumper at Stratford back in September also. He makes his belated debut over hurdles here and connections have picked a very ordinary race for him to break his maiden tag. With the experience of winning point to point form behind him he should have no problem getting his head in front today. Shergill has moderate form in hurdle races to date but as the standard of the race is poor and with Tony McCoy booked to ride he has to be respected. Quelclasse showed a great deal of promise on his debut run at Chepstow back in February but disappointed at Kempton last time out. Having said that he comes from a top yard that are in form so has to be noted. But for the winner we return to The Hairy Mutt.
Formwatch
Catch The Wing (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Held up, mistake 6th, soon struggling, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Adroit Approach (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) In touch, losing place when hit 3rd, soon pushed along, mistake 6th, tailed off after next, 7th of 12, well behind Quickbeam (11-12) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (3) sft in Apr.
Relative Hero (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Music Celebre (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov sll hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Shergill (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Prominent until ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, 45l behind One Gulp (11-1) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
The Hairy Mutt (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden in 3rd over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 2l behind Wade Farm Billy (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nhf (6) gd in Apr.
The Silent King (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Hit 1st, behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Crescent Island (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Suppose I'm Stupid 100-1 (11-0) Soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Jeu d'Esprit (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 2f mrs mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Sister Agnes (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Stumbled start, soon tracked leader, led after 4f, headed 4f out, weakened 3f out, eased over 1f out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Coda Agency (8-13) at Kempton 2m hcap (5) pol (Flat).
Quelclasse (FR) 9-2 (11-0) In touch, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Haar (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.