Racecards
16:50 Wolverhampton
More Offers At Betdirect.co.uk Maiden Stakes (Div 2) (Class 5)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m 141y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Fibresand
Berties Brother
104- Form 06
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey M Fenton
always in rear
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer John A Quinn
- Jockey J Quinn
held up rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 08
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer D W Barker
- Jockey R Winston
led, headed 4f out, soon ridden and weakened well over 1f out
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Tony Culhane
mid-division, pushed along 2f out, ridden and chased winner inside final furlong
- Form 32
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer E J O'Neill
- Jockey J P Spencer
tracked leader, green first bend, led 4f out, clear final furlong, pushed out
- Form 02
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer M P Tregoning
- Jockey C Catlin
in rear, ridden over 3f out, headway on inside final furlong, never nearer
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up in touch, headway on inside to chase leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer P W D'Arcy
- Jockey J F Egan
mid-division, ridden along over 3f out, eased when beaten inside final furlong
Blue Beacon
87- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
prominent, ridden over 2f out to chase leader, edged left and weakened inside final furlong
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer A Kinsella
- Jockey F F Da Silva
chased leaders to 4f out, weakened quickly tailed off
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer Miss Diana Weeden
- Jockey A Kirby
very slowly into stride, and behind, headway 4f out, effort on outside over 3f out, ridden and wekaned over 2f out
In depth
Verdict
Hard To Explain has obvious claims and should make no mistake, with Island Myth and newcomer Dream Champion taken to chase him home. Hard To Explain hails from a stable that sent out plenty of two-year-old winners on Turf throughout the year, and lucky owner John Fretwell can see his pale green colours triumph again here with Hard To explain who found only the odds-on Mark Johnston inmate Three Thieves too strong at Musselburgh in October. The son of Marju could easily have been given a winter's rest, but the fact that he turns out is a strong hint that he is raring to go, and he can prove too good for Island Myth. The latter probably came up against an above average all-weather performer in the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Demon Docker here a fortnight ago, but although running well in defeat, meets another potentially smart sort here in the shape of our selection. Dream Champion is related to quite a few winners and is sure to have been well prepared, while Questive should have no stamina problems on breeding and comes from a yard that does well on the all-weather. All in all, this is not a bad race to go out on, and we take Hard To Explain to come out on top.
Formwatch
Country Affair (USA) 50-1 (8-9) Led, headed under 2f out, soon no extra, 11th of 26, more than 3l behind Puerto Rico (9-2) at Curragh 1m 2yo mdn gs in Oct.
Dark Night (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 17l behind Red Cape (9-0) at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn (5) pol.
Dream Champion Fraam colt, half-brother to winners on the flat and over hurdles.
Hard To Explain (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Tracked leaders, switched right, ridden and challenged over 1f out, soon driven and every chance, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Three Thieves (9-0) at Musselburgh 1m 1f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Island Myth (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Mid-division, swit-brother to winners on the flat and over jumps.
Questive Rainbow Quest colt, brother to 1m4f winner Blaze Of Colour, half-brother to winners on the flat and over jumps.
Blue Beacon 100-1 (8-11)) pol.
Frantastik Lady (IRE) Key Of Luck filly out of a mare who ran only once.