Racecards
16:05 Wincanton
Blue Square Dick Woodhouse Hunters' Chase
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form P7-P213
- Age 10
- Weight 12-7
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer C St V Fox
- Jockey Miss C Tizzard
held up in rear, headway from 10th to track leaders after 13th, carried left 3 out, led next, hit last, kept on well
- Form P6P4-U1
- Age 13
- Weight 12-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Mrs Jo Sleep
- Jockey Mr M Munrowd
led until 1st, chased leaders, went badly left 6th, led 13th, jumped badly left from next, headed and mistake 2 out, weakened
Edgar Gink (IRE)
680- Form 32123/8-
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer L Corcoran
- Jockey Mr W P Kavanagh
soon led, hit 7th, headed 10th, fell next
Morris Piper
12- Form 11P-2P1
- Age 12
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Mrs R Partridge
- Jockey Mr R Woollacott
held up, headway 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
- Form U47/7F-5
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey Miss S West
chased leaders, led 12th until next, soon weakened
- Form 32/43-11
- Age 11
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer S Dixon
- Jockey Miss A Goschen
held up rear, lost touch and well behind from 10th, good headway 13th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, no extra run-in
- Form P4-5223
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Mrs A L Tory
- Jockey Mr R Bliss
held up, lost touch from 10th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 76P/4-F1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer Miss S E Robinson
- Jockey Mr M Walford
chased leaders, led 10th until 13th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
In depth
Verdict
As with most of these races, the betting should be watched with interest but, form a shortlist containing Red Brook Lad, Sporting Chance and West Paces, we will side with West Paces. The selection has run to a reasonable level of form - certainly in the context of this contest - on his last three starts and, to be fair, this is not a strong heat. Unless the betting tells a markedly different story, we will side with him. The one that comes out best of these on official ratings is Red Brook Lad and there is no doubt that, on the face of things, he looks to hold very solid claims. However, he can miss out the odd fence, which is not a good idea around this track. Sporting Chance certainly seems to have improved of late and ought to go well again, while Prince Dundee has form enough to give him place claims, but he is not the most genuine. Much as Mollycarrs Gambul won a point-to-point race last time, her form before that was not out of the ordinary. As we say, watch the betting, but we are happy enough to side with West Paces.
Formwatch
Red Brook Lad 5-1 Behind, steady headway from 11th, chased leaders after 4 out, close up next, stayed on same pace before last, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Emperor Ross at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (H) gd in Feb.
Sporting Chance 25-1 Prominent, led 5th, drew clear after 3 out, stayed on well, won at N Abbot 2m 5f hts chs (H) gd in May beating Bill Me Up by 14l, 14 ran.
Apollo Victoria (FR) 100-1 Behind most of way, never dangerous, 8th of 17, 27l behind Cardenas at Newbury 2m nov hdl (B) gs in Dec '03.
Edgar Gink (IRE) 6-1 Led until ridden and headed, weakened 2 out, mistake last, 8th of 19, 29l behind Red Brook Lad at Cheltenham 2m 5f mdn hts chs (H) gd in Apr '03.
Morris Piper 4-5fav won at Black Forest Ldg 3m ptp frm in Feb beating Bruthuinne by 6l, 3 ran.
Silken Thomas 20-1 5th of 6, 34l behind Bilton's Nap at Milborne St Andr 3m ptp gf in Feb.
West Paces (IRE) 3-1 won at Larkhill 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Classify by a nk, 13 ran.
Macaroni Beach 5-1 last of 3, 16l behind Wild Knight at Badbury Rings 3m ptp frm in Feb.
Mollycarrs Gambul 7-1 won at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Little Apple Bay by 8l, 9 ran.
Prince Dundee (FR) 8-1 3rd of 12, 14l behind Mighty Montefalco at Tweseldown 3m ptp gd in Feb.