Racecards
12:40 Wetherby
Constant Security Services Novices' Chase (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 85y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,256
- 2nd: £1,848
- 3rd: £924
- 4th: £462
- Form 1113-15
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Ian Popham
with leader, led 5th, headed after 7th, led again 9th, left clear after 4 out, kept on well
- Form 412/334-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
led, headed 5th, led again after 7th, headed 9th, mistake 6 out, pushed along next, outpaced before 2 out, went 2nd run-in, kept on strongly
- Form 3/8215-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Tom Cannon
tracked leaders, headway after 5 out, in 2nd and going well when fell 4 out
- Form 2113-PP
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer H Bethell
- Jockey Danny Cook
in rear and in touch, outpaced before 4 out, chased winner before 2 out until run-in, no extra
In depth
Verdict
Its'afreebee won a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Haydock in January then finished third in the Neptune at Cheltenham behind Yorkhill. He made a winning start over fences at Fakenham but couldn't keep up the gallop when attempting to make all at Cheltenham last month. The 2015 World Hurdle winner COLE HARDEN has only had four starts since that success and finished well beaten at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. However, he had also registered a fair third behind Thistlecrack in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and didn't look right afterwards when well beaten in this year's World Hurdle. He can make a successful start to his new career as though Minella Charmer won a novice hurdle on heavy going at Plumpton by a very wide margin he then found Grade 2 company and quick going too much for him at Doncaster. Grade 3-winning hurdler Newberry New makes his debut over fences, but could have been found an easier start.
Formwatch
Its'afreebee (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Pressed leader, led narrowly 3rd, driven and headed after after 3 out, one pace in 3rd next, no chance with front pair after last, lost 2 places near finish, 5th of 7, 18l behind O O Seven (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Cole Harden (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Led, headed 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no chance with front pair before last, lost modest 3rd flat, 4th of 12, 30 3/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Minella Charmer (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Barters Hill (11-7) at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Jan.
Newberry New (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Mid-division, on outside, struggling after 7th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.