Racecards
14:00 Wincanton
E.B.F./crandon Park Stud Mares' Only 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class D)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Form 1-21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up mid-division, headway after 5th, led after 2 out, ran on well, readily
- Form 7-72313
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M Weeden
- Jockey N D Fehily
led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
- Form 06-51P7
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Mrs J Mann
- Jockey Mr J Owen
in touch till badly hampered and unseated rider 4th
- Form 2540F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey J P McNamara
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 9/60-P3P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 0/UP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey Mr R Young
in touch till 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Josanjamic
20- Form 23-2596
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer W Kittow
- Jockey D R Dennis
chased leaders till 7th, soon weakened
Just Caramel
164- Form 2-P2344
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
mid-division till 7th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer C Morlock
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
held up towards rear, headway after 5th, jumped left next, soon weakened, tailed off
Mini Mandy
41- Form 4/13-7
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer R Buckler
- Jockey A Honeyball
held up behind, headway 7th, soon ridden, stayed on
- Form 0F
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
held up, hampered 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form P41269
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, stayed on, never troubled leaders
Cash Return
21- Form 009
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey M Batchelor
in touch till 8th, soon behind
- Form 3027
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, one-paced
- Form 680
- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
mid-division till brought down 4th
In depth
Verdict
The in-form Madam Flora will have a tough task giving away weight to all her 15 rivals. She was hiked in the ratings after beating Tealby by 24 lengths at Wincanton on Boxing Day. She is a course specialist already and the ground will suit. Blue Ride beat Clingstone by a short head at the course also on Boxing Day off 10st 5lb. His jockey's claim will help his cause and this in-form Paul Nicholls-trained mare should be hard to beat. The inconsistent Phar Breeze won one of these qualifiers at Southwell in November, but has been well beaten since and others are preferred. One of those is Just Caramel, who regularly runs into the places for connections, but has not yet managed to break her duck over hurdles. She returns from a long absence, but runs well fresh and has to be respected. Mincarlo finished third to Madam Flora at Wincanton and improved further when beaten just four lengths at Ludlow last time out; she's certainly going the right way. Dunnicks Chance finished a detached third to Blue Ride on Boxing Day, and has failed to sparkle on all starts so far. Mini Mandy makes her hurdles debut after being well-beaten in a bumper last time out, which marked a return from a long absence. Has won a bumper, but plenty to prove in Thursday's race. The remainder would have to improve to figure in the first four.