Racecards
14:55 Wincanton
Bet@bluesq.Com Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Form 021215
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
prominent, headway on inside 3 out, challenged and led on bit before 2 out, pushed clear from last, comfortably
Marmaduke (IRE)
601- Form 1646/22-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey James Davies
led, clear 2nd, hit 5th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 3F5F23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
held up towards rear, pecked 4th, weakened 3 out, behind when hit last
- Form 314445
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
chased leader, headway and challenged 5th, every chance approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 51-1260
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up last, headway 5th, ridden and challenged approaching 2 out, one pace after
- Form FP23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division, mistake 3rd and 5th, weakened 3 out
- Form 0-3516
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in touch, headway 3 out, challenged and every chance approaching 2 out, held when hit last
In depth
Verdict
In an interesting contest, Hot Shots gets a narrow vote over Forever Dream and Blue Americo. The selection was at one time rated as high as 123 over hurdles but his best winning mark over the smaller obstacles was 111. He's now rated 120 but has retained his form well over fences of late and Timmy Murphy has elected to ride him from the two Mark Pitman entries. The other one is Marmaduke, a talented if fairly fragile gelding. Fit from the Flat, the latter can still go well even though he is rated up to his best. Avitta turns out again quickly after a Doncaster defeat but, much as he has a high cruising speed, he tends to find little when the stakes are raised. Spring Pursuit is now rated 14lbs higher than for his Warwick win, while Forever Dream, the choice of Richard Johnson from the two Philip Hobbs runners, has been put in his place from around today's mark in valuable Cheltenham handicaps on his last two runs, although he showed his liking for this track when winning a bumper here a year ago. Hobbs also runs the novice In The Frame, but he has to improve a bit to capture this prize. Blue Americo has proven a little enigmatic so far. He is talented but has looked very babyish on occasions. He confounded expectations when scoring at Taunton in February but then let the side down when well-backed here last time. He remains interesting but, for today, particularly if there is a good market vibe around him, we'll go for Hot Shots.