Racecards
14:12 Wetherby
William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 56y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,500 added
- Winner: £4,224
- 2nd: £1,240
- 3rd: £620
- 4th: £310
- Form 0325-41
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey M G Nolan
made all, not fluent 2nd, clear when hit 3 out, not fluent 2 out, easily
Lemon T
42- Form 51-21
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Ruth Jefferson
- Jockey Jamie Hamilton
mistakes, chased winner until 8th, went 2nd again before 3 out, no chance with winner, dropped to 3rd and pulled up before last, dismounted
- Form U52-1U2
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Daniel Hiskett
chased leaders, went 2nd when not fluent 8th, dropped to 3rd and ridden before 3 out, went 2nd again before not fluent last, no chance with winner
In depth
Verdict
Islandray has something to find on the formbook but is going the right way and will stay well as a winning point-to-pointer. Lemon T is 2-4 and has benefitted from the patience of Ruth Jefferson. He should improve again but KALOOKI does set a decent form standard and cruised home at Ludlow over this trip and ground last month. This could become tactical with such a small field but the Hobbs inmate does look the one to beat.
Formwatch
Kalooki (GER) 11-8fav (11-6) Made all, clear before 3 out, easily, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating Come On Teddy (11-6) by 17l, 15 ran.
Lemon T 2-9fav (10-12) Made all, shaken up when pressed after 2 out, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Banks O' Houxty (10-12) by 8l, 6 ran.
Islandray (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 4th, not fluent 6th, chased winner 3 out, no impression before last, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Lieutenant Rocco (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.