Racecards
13:50 Warwick
eventmasters.co.uk Hampton Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £55,000 added
- Winner: £31,322
- 2nd: £11,754
- 3rd: £5,885
- 4th: £2,932
- Form 3212-51
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Lorcan Williams
prominent, disputed lead before 2nd until after 7th, hit 10th, not fluent next, driven after 2 out (normal 3 out), no impression last (normal 2 out)
- Form 212-703
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer S Edmunds
- Jockey C Gethings
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, soon lost place, slow 4th and 5th, behind 9th, tailed off next
- Form 104-412
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 138
chased leaders, pushed along after 12th, outpaced 3 out (normal 4 out), well held 3rd last (normal 2 out)
- Form 1133-1P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
made most, clear before last (normal 2 out), stayed on well
In depth
Verdict
Gentleman At Arms was a smart novice hurdler last season and will be all the better for a first run over fences at Leicester but it was hard not to be impressed by COMPLETE UNKNOWN’s chase debut at Ffos Las and conditions aren’t going to be a problem. The Goffer will provide a good line on the Irish novices and Galia Des Liteaux can probably be forgiven her run in the Feltham at Kempton as a blunder in the early stages appeared to dent her confidence.
Formwatch
Complete Unknown (IRE) 15-8 (10-12) Raced in 4th out wide, left in 3rd place 4 out, went 2nd between last two, upsides and good jump last, led run-in, quickened clear, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating First Lord De Cuet (10-5) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Gentleman At Arms (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked winner, every chance 4 out, ridden and not fluent next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 15 1/4l behind Loughderg Rocco (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f (3) gd in Dec.
The Goffer (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, slight mistake 3rd, 2nd halfway, ridden entering straight and slight mistake 2 out, no impression on winner from before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Ha D'Or (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Galia Des Liteaux (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Led, reached for 2nd, bad blunder 5th, pushed along and lost 2nd 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out, at Kempton 3m (1) sft in Dec.