Racecards
20:10 Towcester
'Mazda Mx-5' Novices' Chase (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £3,700 added
- Winner: £2,407
- 2nd: £707
- 3rd: £353
- 4th: £176
- Form 2344-21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey A O'keeffe
led, ridden and headed approaching last, soon held
- Form 47211-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey A P McCoy
pressed leader, jumped left and not always fluent, ridden approaching 2 out, led before last, clear flat, comfortably
Arkose (IRE)
37- Form 3/06603-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, not fluent 1st, went 3rd 8th, not fluent 10th, lost touch next
- Form 30P34-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P A Pritchard
- Jockey Jack Doyle
held up, behind from 10th, tailed off
- Form 003/UPP-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer P A Pritchard
- Jockey C Poste
tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, lost 3rd 8th, stumbled next, behind from 10th, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Downward Spiral overturned the odds-on Helpston at Uttoxeter last week but is likely to find PAINT THE CLOUDS a tougher nut to crack. Warren Greatrex' six-year-old comfortably transferred a progressive profile over hurdles into the chasing sphere nine days ago, winning by 11 lengths at Worcester. That looked a much stronger contest than this and, barring accidents; he should double his tally over the larger obstacles here. The Peter Pritchard pair look up against it but Arkose is a decent hurdler and is tried again over fences after jumping poorly in a couple of starts in the autumn.
Formwatch
Downward Spiral (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Made all, ridden after 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov chs (4) gd beating Helpston (10-12) by 4l, 4 ran.
Paint The Clouds 4-6fav (11-0) Chased leader from 3rd, challenged after 8th, led 11th, clear 3 out, eased flat, won at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd beating She's On The Case (10-7) by 11l, 5 ran.
Arkose (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Led until narrowly headed 4th, chased leaders, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, stayed on again from last, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Puzzlemaster (10-4) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Bumped 1st, last after and not going well, several deliberate jumps, behind from 7th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Like Ice (11-10) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Roman Landing 200-1 (11-4) Led, hit 5th, headed next, weakened rapidly and in rear when blundered 7th, tailed off next, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Cantlow (11-4) at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb, 8 ran.