Racecards
16:50 Wetherby
Jimmy & Jane Fitzgerald Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 51
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
made all, driven 3 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
- Form 343-114
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 110
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
- Form 923244-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 65232-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 105
tracked winner, headway to challenge 3 out, ridden next, stayed on same pace
- Form 68-67
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer T J FitzGerald
- Jockey P Whelan
mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Zeydnaa (IRE)
147- Form 00P-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C R Wilson
- Jockey G Lee
held up, driven and outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
Lazy Lena (IRE)
108- Form 6-37020
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Miss L C Siddall
- Jockey T Siddall
held up, always behind
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey R McGrath
chased leaders, driven and lost place 4th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 4 out
In depth
Verdict
Flotta, Ambition Royal and Common Girl are three against the field in this novices hurdle and the vote is given to Flotta. The selection won well last time out when beating Almizan and although he has a penalty for that win he looks a progressive type and he is taken to win again under conditions that suit. Ambiton Royal rates the main danger on his best form but he did not progress as expected last season so he can not be put forward with any confidence. However he hails from a shrewd yard, which is in top form and he should be closely monitored in the market. Common Girl is another worthy of respect on her best form but she looked as though she had peeked when fourth behind Shining Starand last time and for that reason is opposed Of the remainder Love That Benny showed enough in three runs to date last season to suggest that he could win a race of this nature but his stables runners have tended to need their first run of there season and for the winner we return to the progressive Flotta.
Formwatch
Flotta 3-1 (10-12) Chased leader and raced wide throughout, led 4th, clear 3 out, eased from last, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd beating Almizan (11-5) by 14l, 11 ran.
Common Girl (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Led, headed before 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 10, 27l behind Shining Strand (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (D) gd in May.
Ambition Royal (FR) 5-2jt-fav (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 4th of 11, 13l behind Lofty Leader (11-0) at Perth 2m nh mdn hdl (D) gs in Apr.
Love That Benny (USA) 7-4 (11-2) Held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Dancing Rock (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f mdn hdl (F) gs in Mar.
Soviet Committee 16-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, lost place 6f out, no danger after, 7th of 17, 19l behind Fountain Crumble (10-8) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gf in Aug.
Zeydnaa (IRE) 200-1 (10-9) Chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Snow's Ride (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in May.
Lazy Lena (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway 9th, weakened 3 out, 12th of 16, well behind Idlewild (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f cnd sll hcp hdl (G) gf in Jun.
Wotabroad Broadsword mare out of an unraced mare.
Daggy Boy (NZ) 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, 8th of 15, well behind Good Samaritan (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gs.