Racecards
14:55 Wetherby
Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Winner: £5,848
- 2nd: £1,717
- 3rd: £859
- 4th: £429
- Form 411-F21
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey D C Costello
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 32-4PPP
- Age 10
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Miss S E Forster
- Jockey F Davis
in rear, behind when pulled up 10th
- Form 6/611R5-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J Wade
- Jockey James Reveley
in touch, led approaching 3 out, hard pressed last, all out to hold on (no time taken)
- Form 3/132-P4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
prominent, ridden and weakened 10th, pulled up soon after
- Form 7915/4P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey B S Hughes
mid-division, ridden and one pace 10th
- Form 113303
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey Danny Cook
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
- Form 376-344
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
in rear, ridden 4 out, never able to challenge
- Form 727439
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up, headway 4 out, soon driven and beaten
- Form 22365F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Jonathan England
chased leaders, weakened 5 out, behind and pulled up before next
- Form 228-42U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up, challenged 2 out, every chance until no extra close home
In depth
Verdict
Despite a big weight, SUPER DIRECTA is probably ahead of the handicapper and gets the nod. Lucy Wadham's charge, a progressive hurdler, didn't have much to beat at Ffos Las on his second start over fences but did it nicely and is the type to climb the ranks. Bocciani hasn't done as well as expected over fences but the handicapper has given him a chance while Bene Lad is generally very consistent though he only got as far as the first at Cheltenham last time. Le Roi Rouge hasn't been going all that well but the combination of a falling handicap mark and Lucy Alexander's claim puts him in the frame for this.
Formwatch
Super Directa (GER) 8-11fav (11-1) Made all, clear after 3 out, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft in Nov beating Green To Gold (11-1) by 19l, 4 ran.
Storymaker 28-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, rallied 11th, soon under pressure and weakened, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Chapolimoss (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Tyrone House (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, weakened before 5 out, 5th of 7, 43l behind Nikos Extra (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Knockavilla (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) With winner, ridden before 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 9, 36l behind Quicuyo (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Nov.
Mr Crystal (FR) 13-2 (10-8) In rear and mistakes, detached before 6 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Quito Du Tresor (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Bocciani (GER) 11-2 (11-1) Held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced from 5 out, kept on from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Best Lover (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Le Roi Rouge (FR) 7-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, went clear 3rd 9th, ridden before 2 out, no chance with leading pair when lost place before last, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 21l behind Camden George (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy.
Border Reiver 14-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 14, well behind Douglas Julian (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
High Jack (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, fell 7th, in a race won by Stewarts House (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy, 14 ran.
Bene Lad (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Close up when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Night Alliance (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd, 9 ran.