Racecards
14:35 Wetherby
Mel Welch Celebration Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 0P-P
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J S Wainwright
- Jockey M J McAlister
held up, good headway to join leader 3rd, weakened 5th, pulled up before 3 out
Croon
17- Form 4
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Bailey
- Jockey K Mercer
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
Frenchgate
479- Form 50/P-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey P McDonald
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
- Form 65-127
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
prominent, hampered by loose horse at 3rd, soon lost place
- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R M Whitaker
- Jockey P Whelan
in touch, headway to track leaders 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
Kalush
42- Form PP
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss A Stokell
- Jockey K Johnson
held up mid-division, behind when blundered 3 out, pulled up before last
- Form 7-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs K Walton
- Jockey T J Dreaper
keen, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Liverpool (GER)
147- Form 44
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
mid-division, weakened 4 out
Macchiato
182- Form 0P03-31
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer R E Barr
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up and keen, headway to chase leaders 4 out, soon weakened
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace from 3 out
- Form 78/949-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 97
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, edged right, run-in, all out
- Form 2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
mid-division, headway 4th, chased winner approaching 3 out, stayed on from last
Time To Regret
1202- Form 7/
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey P Buchanan
held up and keen, effort 5th, never dangerous, pulled up before last
Tom's Toybox
20- Form 6-25
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey F King
mid-division, one pace from 3 out
- Form 0364-5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey R McGrath
held up, headway and in 4th when blundered 3 out, one pace
Madhavi
11- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer B S Rothwell
- Jockey A Ross
mid-division, headway 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 6130-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, weakened next
Wolds Dancer
20- Form 90
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D O'Meara
in rear, ridden and headway from 3 out, never dangerous
In depth
Verdict
The Abbots Habit is the pick over Croon and Senora Snoopy, with Liverpool, Macchiato and Tom's Toybox all worth a mention at least. There are plenty here that should safely pay to follow in time, but today The Abbots Habit looks the one to be on. The Nicky Richards-trained gelding posted an eyecatching effort on his Carlisle debut last month, chasing home the odds-on favourite Pass It On, and with normal improvement should prove hard to beat. Related to a Welsh National winner on the dam's side, he no doubt has a bright future over fences one day, but at present, two miles should be far enough for him. Croon drops back in trip after fading out of contention at Market Rasen on his debut over timber, and should be involved in the finish as well, while Senora Snoopy has yet to jump a flight in public but took part in a Listed bumper at Sandown in March. Macchiato showed a good attitude when scoring at Sedgefield but has more to do, and Liverpool and Tom's Toybox have some experience, but again, they face stiff tasks first time over timber. The Abbots Habit has plenty of potential and is the one to side with.
Formwatch
Bayside 16-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind Astarador (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nov hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Croon 9-4 (10-12) In touch and raced keen, chased winner from 3rd, lost 2nd place when weakened flat, 4th of 10, 12l behind Keltic Rock (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd.
Golden Streak (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Prominent, outpaced 6th, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 10, 21l behind Keltic Rock (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd.
Liverpool (GER) 7-2 (11-1) Prominent until weakened over 2f out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Didbrook (10-8) at Worcester 2m mdn nhf (6) gd in Jun.
Macchiato 9-1 (9-12) Tracked leader, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, hard pressed last, ridden, stayed on well flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Bollin Thomas (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
No Greater Love (FR) (8-10) Improved to lead 2f out, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Superior Officer (9-0) at Clairefontaine 1m 6f stk in Aug '05 (Flat).
The Abbots Habit (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, smooth headway 3 out, ridden and every chance when edged right last, kept on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Pass It On (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Tom's Toybox 25-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, hung left over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 16, 22l behind Harrowman (10-9) at Haydock 2m nhf (6) gd.