Racecards
17:30 TurfTV Extras
John Smith's Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (Class A )
- 22 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- Form 210053
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Mr A Glassonbury
with leaders, led after 1st, headed 3rd, pushed along 7th, behind when hampered 4 out
- Form 5-03144
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey W McCarthy
tracked leaders, led 6th, headed 7th, chasing leaders when badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out
- Form 421120
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T Greenway
tracked leaders, close up when fell 4 out
- Form 3212-20
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
always towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 212435
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey K Mercer
held up, pushed along approaching 5th, weakened approaching 4 out
Ballylusky (IRE)
125- Form F410-1F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in touch, driven and lost place 8th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 121111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, smooth headway to track leaders approaching 9th, every chance when blundered last, one pace
- Form 23240P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
held up mid-division, ridden and headway after 4 out, weakened next
- Form 112-234
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey A Dobbin
in touch, soon driven along, hampered 4 out when weakening, tailed off when pulled up before next
- Form 115B60
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
- Form 143100
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey R Thornton
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 2-FF001
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Mrs S D Williams
- Jockey J Tizzard
chased leaders, led and hit 7th, ridden after 3 out, challeneged when hit last, ran on strongly run in
Touch Closer
22- Form 426204
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Miss V Scott
- Jockey G Lee
pushed along towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 20-5162
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up, some headway approaching 3 out, no impression from next
- Form 1P0-PP0
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
towards rear, pulled up before 6
- Form 1/311-60
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey W Marston
led to 1st and keen, led again 3rd, hit 6th, headed 6th, led and hit 7th, headed next
- Form 10/1-056
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
behind, ridden and some headway after 4 out, never dangerous
- Form 161000
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer C Roberts
- Jockey L Stephens
with leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next
- Form 2P2
- Age 6
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out
- Form 55-0000
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T J Malone
held up, ridden 8, hampered 4 out, weakened approaching next
- Form 2-42302
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Mrs S C Bradburne
- Jockey M Bradburne
always towards rear
- Form 612050
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey S Durack
prominent, ridden and lost place from 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Martin Pipe saddles no less than five here, with preference for in form Celtic Son over the likes of Savannah Bay, Carlys Quest, Holland Park and Hirvine to mention but a few. Celtic Son has certainly captured the headlines this term, thanks not just to his last six victories but to a couple of defeats, notably when given the kid glove treatment by Timmy Murphy at Newbury and when turned over by Basilea Star at Uttoxeter. He is well exposed now and has gone shooting up the weights, but has had a rest since February and will be well primed. Savannah Bay would have needed his return at Cheltenham in March and with the blinkers on and lightly weighted, is sure to give a good account. Carlys Quest ran a blinder on the Flat recently when chasing home Dr Sharp at Doncaster. He made a lot of ground up that day and will relish the trip and ground here. Holland Park bounced back to form at Uttoxeter last time and may have a say for a place at least, while Hirvine ran a cracker in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, only running out of steam up the hill, and is another to consider. However, Martin Pipe knows what it takes to win this, having captured it twice in the past with Carlovent, and Celtic Son is taken to add to the stable's tally.
Formwatch
Quick 50-1 Led and soon clear, reduced advantage 6th, not fluent 8th, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on one pace flat, 3rd of 22, 6l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Turtle Soup (IRE) 9-1 Held up rear, ridden and effort after 3 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 19l behind Blue Canyon at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Hirvine (FR) 25-1 Chased clear leader, hit 3rd, closed on leader 6th, ridden and every chance when not fluent last, no extra flat, 8th of 22, 8l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Fountain Hill (IRE) 12-1 In touch, ridden after 7th, one pace flat, 8th of 29, 19l behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Carlys Quest 20-1 Held up towards rear, pushed along and nearly last 3 out, stayed on approaching last, nudged along and kept on flat, 5th of 22, 8l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Champagne Harry 40-1 Chased leaders, lost pace before 10th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Juveigneur at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Mar, 24 ran.
Paperprophet 9-4fav Towards rear, reminders after 4th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on from next, no impression, 4th of 8, 14l behind Turtle Soup at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (B) hvy in Dec.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 12-1 Mid-division, switched right and headway approaching 2 out, not clear run approaching last, no impression, 12th of 22, 10l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 50-1 Held up in rear, some headway when mistake 2 out, never on terms, 16th of 22, 13l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Holland Park (IRE) 10-1 Mid-division, headway 5th, not fluent 8th, led 4 out, driven clear approaching last, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Mar beating Nick's Choice by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Touch Closer 66-1 Held up in touch, pushed along and lost place 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on to take 4th flat, 4th of 22, 7l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 66-1 Held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, kept on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 22, 2l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Lilium de Cotte (FR) 100-1 Held up, ridden 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous, 10th of 29, 21l behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
You Owe Me (IRE) 66-1 Led, headed and not fluent 7th, weakened quickly, 18th of 29, 44l behind Idole First at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Back To Ben Alder (IRE) 9-1 In touch, ridden when blundered 3 out, no impression on leaders when mistake last, stayed on under pressure flat, 6th of 21, 12l behind Stance at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Mar.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 100-1 Never better than mid-division, 18th of 22, 17l behind Oulart at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Idaho d'Ox (FR) 16-1 Held up, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 9th of 21, 16l behind Stance at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Mar.
No Picnic (IRE) 13-2 Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out and outpaced, kept on after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Omni Cosmo Touch at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb.
Old Feathers (IRE) 12-1 Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 12, 41l behind Rambling Minster at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.