Racecards
14:25 Uttoxeter
David Fitzgerald Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 3P-3111
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up, ridden and headway after 4 out, led run-in
- Form 1/1U43P-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey S P Jones
tracked leaders, reminders and lost place approaching 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 0U4/FPP-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey A Dempsey
held up, ridden and some headway after 8th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
Lady Maranzi
293- Form 3F0811-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Mrs D A Hamer
- Jockey L Heard
led, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 12PF-96
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
- Form 5PP2/24-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey R Young
mid-division, headway 5th, mistake 7th, weakened after next, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 4-89P13
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey S Durack
towards rear, ridden after 8th, some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 311-435
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Miss K Marks
- Jockey R Johnson
held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching and hit 3 out, headed run-in, no extra
- Form P53PP8
- Age 11
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Mrs P Ford
- Jockey L Stephens
held up, weakened 4 out, tailed off
- Form 52700-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey T Doyle
chased leaders, mistakes 4th and 5th, lost place from 7th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 238P/98
- Age 7
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey O McPhail
with leader, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Negus De Beaumont, Over The Blues and Young Lorcan are the three for the shortlist and we side with Negus De Beaumont. Ferdy Murphy has earmarked a chasing campaign for his five-year-old and while he had to be pushed along to score last time out, he is progressing well, handles the ground and is giving weight away to weaker oppostition. Over The Blues stays extreme trips well and handles the going. He can still be regarded as unexposed and should not be written off too readily. Young Lorcan was in rude health in the Spring and is another who loves the mud to fly. The handicapper has had plenty of chance to assess him but Richard Johnson rates as a very interesting jockey booking. It remains to be seen as to whether Lady Maranzi can maintain her upward progression and this is a big ask on her reappearance. Graceful Dancer is not the most consistent of individuals although he is sure to have his supporters given Brendan Powell's recent run of form. Jardin de Beaulieu had bits and pieces of form for Ian Williams and is worth more than a cursory look in the market, however Negus De Beaumont could still be open to improvement and we take him to carry top weight here.
Formwatch
Negus de Beaumont (FR) 5-4fav (11-2) In touch, outpaced 4 out, rallied to lead next, stayed on strongly, won at Ayr 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov beating Piraeus (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Graceful Dancer 4-1fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 14th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Bang And Blame (10-5) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Lady Maranzi 15-8fav (11-8) Led 1st, ridden clear approaching last, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m cnd sll hcp hdl (5) sft in Feb beating Shalati Princess (10-6) by 9l, 11 ran.
Jardin de Beaulieu (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 14l behind Glacial Delight (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Nov '05.
La Marette 16-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, stayed on well from 3 out, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Abragante (11-3) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Young Lorcan 7-2jt-fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 11l behind Wain Mountain (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Backstreet Lad 7-1 (10-12) Prominent until weakened approaching 2 out, 12th of 15, 28l behind Lorient Express (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Apr.
Over The Blues (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, chased winner last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2l behind La Marette (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.