Racecards
14:30 Warwick
Racing UK Novices' Hurdle
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f
- Going: Soft (Chase - Soft, Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- Form 0-26113
- Age 7
- Weight 12-1
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer P A Pritchard
- Jockey M Bradburne
prominent, led briefly 7th, quickened up next, weakened 3 out
- Form 085
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey P Merrigan
always behind, tailed off 6th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 491-7P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey C Llewellyn
held up, hit 4th and 5th, headway to chase leaders 7th, weakened 4 out
- Form U2/24-9P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer S E H Sherwood
- Jockey J Tizzard
towards rear, reminders 4th, headway 7th, weakened next, took poor 3rd after last
- Form 06P31/P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey V Slattery
led 1st, headed next, ridden and weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
- Form 316
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
always prominent, led and awkward 8th, quickened clear with 2nd, clear after 3 out, easy
- Form 9P0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
led after 1st, weakening when headed 7th, pulled up before next
- Form 7809
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer C P Morlock
- Jockey S Walsh
in touch, ridden 6th, weakened and tailed off when pulled up before 8th
Vesta Flame
124- Form P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey Mr M Scales
held up in touch, ridden 4th, hit next, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
Monteforte
99- Form 1/12-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer J A B Old
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
This looks to be a head-to-head between Woodlands Genpower and Monteforte, and our vote goes to the latter, with Sunset Light looking the best of the others. Monteforte has left a very good impression in two bumper efforts and when winning at Chepstow on his hurdling debut. He is stepping up five furlongs in trip from that run but, receiving weight from what seems to be his strongest rival, he should go well. Woodlands Genpower had also left a very good impression prior to his run over course and distance last time which, to be fair, was disappointing. Much as the winner, The Listener, is useful, Woodlands Genpower found very little when it mattered, and his trainer's glowing pre-race reports about him then led to a bit of head-scratching. He might yet come good, but having to concede six pounds on this going to a decent novice in the selection, will not be easy. Sunset Light disappointed on his hurdling debut after having looked very promising in bumpers, but he could yet be interesting - although jockey bookings possibly suggest that Monteforte is the stronger of the two Jim Old entries - while Real Definition won his bumper here a year ago, but has shown little in two runs since. Overall, then, once again, the vote goes to Monteforte.