Racecards
15:30 Wetherby
Wetherby Races Next Wednesday 3rd January Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 6194-14
- Age 4
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P C Haslam
- Jockey W J Cafferty
led, blundered 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 84-2FU3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
prominent, weakened after 4 out
- Form 55-6190
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey M Mcavoy
held up, hit 2nd, soon prominent, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
- Form U-83049
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey P Kinsella
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, no impression
- Form 5-25243
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey Mr T Collier
held up in rear, headway 5th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear
- Form 564-68
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey A Dempsey
held up, weakened 5th
- Form 12F250
- Age 9
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer A J Lockwood
- Jockey Stephen Craine
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 41R4-90
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey K Renwick
held up, headway approaching 4th, weakened 3 out
In depth
Verdict
A wide open contest rounds off the card but the principals look to be Etoile Russe, Charlotte Vale and Smoothly Does It and the vote is given to Etoile Russe. The selection ran a blinder in a much better race when fourth behind Overstrand last time out, granted he has risen in the weights but this looks easier and under conditions that suit he is hard to oppose. Charlotte Vale rates the main danger as he is dropped in class having been outclassed behind Straw Bear last time but his best form is on slightly better ground and he is taken on with this in mind. Smoothly Does It is another that could go well but he continues to rise in the weights without winning and is taken on with this in mind. Of the remainder, Trust Rule looks well in on his best form and should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to Etoile Russe.
Formwatch
Etoile Russe (IRE) 20-1 (9-9) Led until headed approaching last, no extra flat, 4th of 17, 10l behind Overstrand (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) hvy.
Marsh Run 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost approaching 8th, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 3rd of 7, 39l behind Only Vintage (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft.
Speed Venture 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 20, 24l behind Kickahead (11-0) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Smoothly Does It 5-1 (10-12) Held up, ridden, headway after 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Aberdeen Park (10-5) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Trust Rule 14-1 (11-9) In touch, struggling 4 out, weakened from next, 8th of 12, 24l behind Baffling Secret (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Only Words (USA) 28-1 (10-4) Chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 35l behind Ad Murum (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Woodford Consult 50-1 (10-12) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, every chance 3 out, weakened next, 10th of 18, 26l behind Fleetwood Forest (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Charlotte Vale 250-1 (11-0) Always behind, 8th of 9, 45l behind Straw Bear (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov.