Racecards
14:50 Warwick
Bet Totepool At All Uk Racecourses Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 00-11F4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
led until after 1st, chased leader until after 6th, went 2nd again 13th, not fluent 3f out, switched left approaching last, led flat, ran on
- Form 231821
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leaders, carried right 12th, not fluent next, reminded after 14th, went 3rd 3f out, weakened flat
- Form P65-1P2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey D Elsworth
not fluent, held up in last, closed after 3f out, weakened 2f out, soon hung left
- Form 114-521
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Christian Williams
prominent, not fluent 7th, ridden 12th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 4f out
- Form 12-2321
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
in touch, chased leader 6th, led 9th, not fluent 13th, jump right 4f out and 2f out, ridden before last, headed flat, not quicken
- Form 32/9-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G R I Smyly
- Jockey A Glassonbury
jumped right, led after 1st, headed 9th, weakened after 3f out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A good quality race with little to choose between the main protagonists; marginal preference is for HOPKINS. Shining Gale comes out on top on official ratings by a pound from West End Rocker but both have a little to prove following desperately disappointing runs at Southwell in February. The former hasn't been seen since but the latter (who arguably had valid excuses at Southwell as the track looked unlikely to suit) went some way to setting the record straight at Doncaster. His jumping wasn't tested there but it will be down this back straight which is why we prefer the chance of Hopkins. Henry Daly's runner looked a promising sort when landing a valuable handicap over hurdles in the spring of last year and he looked a horse worth following when winning readily at Doncaster. He has stamina in abundance and won that race with his jumping which will stand him in good stead here although Robert Thornton was on board that day so will know what's required to get the better of him. Sound Accord can't be left out of the mix either as he put some scratchy efforts behind him to win a modest Wincanton race as he liked which may have done wonders for his confidence although he did benefit from a positive ride by McCoy. Backbord has his share of ability but hasn't impressed on his last two starts so is also opposable and we fancy Hopkins to come out on top.
Formwatch
Shining Gale (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Held up, ridden 4 out, one pace from next, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 20l behind Best Actor (10-12) at Southwell 3m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Sound Accord (IRE) 11-10 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 10th, not fluent 17th, clear from next, won at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft beating Quickbeam (11-4) by 49l, 3 ran.
Backbord (GER) 7-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminder after 8th, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with eased down winner, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Lightning Strike (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gd in Feb.
Hopkins (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Close up, led 12th, drew clear after last, won at Doncaster 3m beg chs (4) gs in Feb beating Quickbeam (11-0) by 10l, 12 ran.
West End Rocker (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 6th, blundered last, drew clear over 2f out, won at Doncaster 3m beg chs (4) gf in Feb beating Nom de Guerre (11-0) by 14l, 3 ran.
Prince Aeneaf 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 41l behind Lodge Lane (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec '07.