Racecards
14:05 Wincanton
European Breeders Fund 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class D)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 2145-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey A Thornton
chased leader from 3rd, challenged 2 out, led on bit approaching last, very easily
Balkirk
13- Form 006-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey M Batchelor
mistake 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, mistake last, one pace flat
Just Jimbo
18- Form 0/00
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer W Turner
- Jockey R C G Harris
towards rear, ridden 3 out, behind from next
Lord Nellsson
226- Form 3600-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
led, not fluent, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
- Form 0-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs S Williams
- Jockey J R Kavanagh
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, hampered soon after, weakened
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
held up towards rear, mistake 3 out, behind from 2 out
- Form 00-500
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
behind, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
Watch The Dove
198- Form 024-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey A Dobbin
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
- Form 00-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
held up, headway after 3 out, 3rd and held when fell next
In depth
Verdict
Grave Doubts should have lined up in this but misses out, handing the race on a plate to Thisthatandtother. Paul Nicholls' charge, a high-class bumper horse last season, with appearances at Cheltenham and Aintree, returned to the scene of his one victory when making mincemeat of his rivals on his timber debut two weeks ago. Immediately targeted at this race, he is expected to take high order amongst the current crop of novices and may well be aimed at the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. His opponents simply do not look good enough, with Balkirk nothing special, so the one to chase him home could be West Coaster. Although not in the same league as Henrietta Knight's stable-stars, he has shaped well in bumper company at Newbury and Kempton, and if some of their shine has rubbed off on him, he can at least provide the forecast to the TEAMtalk selection.