Racecards
16:00 Uttoxeter
bresbet.com Novices' Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 214y
- Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £14,400 added
- Winner: £7,080
- 2nd: £3,262
- 3rd: £1,630
- 4th: £816
- Form 5/21114-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
prominent, pushed along before 4 out, briefly pressed leader 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on after last to take 2nd run-in, not pace of winner
- Form 411311-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Bridget Andrews
towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 3rd approaching 4 out, pressed leader 2 out, soon led and pushed out, jumped left last, ridden out
- Form 5F/414-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Ryan Mania
mid-division, not fluent 4th and dropped to rear, left behind 4 out
- Form 43031-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up in rear, effort and headway 4 out, mistake 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 211527-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey David Bass
chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 5 out, weakened 4 out
- Form 153122-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer S Edmunds
- Jockey C Gethings
led, hit 5th, mistake 4 out and pushed along, hit 2 out and headed, no extra
In depth
Verdict
Milkwood won the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April and found only one too good in the Galway Hurdle in July. He could be a smart recruit to chasing but a similar comment applies to FAIVOIR (NAP), who also won a Grade 2 over the smaller obstacles last season and scored between the flags as a four-year-old. Annual Invictus is another winning pointer who did well over timber last season, winning three times, and Shantou Express should make a chaser. Maskada is also worth a second look but would have preferred more testing conditions.
Formwatch
Annual Invictus (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Midfield, not fluent 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden approaching last, ran on well to grab fourth in final strides, 4th of 23, 5 3/4l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Faivoir (FR) 4-6fav (11-8) Tracked leader, stalked leader going well after 2 out, strong challenge to lead last, kept on well run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Apr beating Witness Protection (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Frimeur De Lancray (FR) 9-2 (11-8) Held up in touch in mid-division, took keen hold, closed 3rd, 4th before 3 out, weakened from next, 4th of 14, 17 3/4l behind Ballybegg (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Feb.
Milkwood (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division and 8th from halfway, took closer order before 2 out and ridden in 4th from last, soon short of room and switch to outer, kept on well to go 2nd close home, not threatening winner, 2nd of 20, 2l behind Saldier (11-10) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Shantou Express (IRE) 11-5fav (11-12) Tracked leader until pushed along before 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 7, dist behind Vision Du Puy (10-13) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Maskada (FR) 13-8jfav (11-12) Led, headed narrowly 2nd, restrained behind leader 3rd, moved to lead narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on under pressure flat, just denied, 2nd of 4, nk behind Hijran (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.