Racecards
13:05 Towcester
European Breeders Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class D)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Soft (G/Soft in back straight)
- Form 262-312
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked leaders and always going well, ridden after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, clear when not fluent last
- Form 1/200-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
The Bar Maid
11- Form 202-121
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer Mrs G Harvey
- Jockey W Marston
led, reminders on bend approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, weakening when headed approaching 2 out
- Form 05-P3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D R Gandolfo
- Jockey J P McNamara
held up in rear, steady headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
- Form 03-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
in touch, ridden to chase clear leaders 3 out, weakened
- Form P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
with leader, ridden 3 out, stayed on, one pace from 2 out to chase clear winner flat
- Form 6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
held up in rear but in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 00-002
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened soon after
In depth
Verdict
Seaniethesmuggler was helped by the early departure of Bubba Boy when winning at Market Rasen last week and faces a stiffer task here under a penalty with preference for Lord Olympia, who gets the vote over The Bar Maid. The selection had some decent form in bumpers and fulfilled the promise shown in that sphere when opening his account over hurdles in a maiden event at Stratford on his debut over timber. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding lost no caste in defeat behind Patches at Wincanton subsequently and he holds solid claims of resuming winning ways. The Bar Maid has two course and distance victories to her name but this looks tougher than either of those contests and she may struggle under her penalty. Alan King's Guthrie is held by the selection on running at Wincanton and a bigger threat may come from Gary Moore's Unusual Suspect, who ran his best race last time when chasing home Lord Of Beauty over a similar trip at Fontwell. Lord Olympia has an obvious chance though and he gets the vote.