Racecards
14:10 Bangor-on-Dee
Hampton Veterinary Centre Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 123y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
- Form 6-53311
- Age 5
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
jumped well, made all and always travelling well, clear after 5th, kept on strongly, very easily, unchallenged
Tjongejonge (FR)
118- Form 5-112P7
- Age 5
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey R Johnson
chased winner throughout, mistake 7th, closer when hit 3 out, soon outpaced and no chance with very easy winner
- Form 29
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey P J Brennan
mistakes, always last, outpaced from 6th, soon strugggling, never a factor
Verdict
BELAMI DES PICTONS scored over this sort of trip in France and made a successful debut for Venetia Williams at Warwick. He had to work hard for his victory though that was over the minimum and today's distance looks ideal. He's rated 5lb higher than Tjongejonge, another minor winner in France whose two runs for Charlie Longsdon have been in much higher grade. He led for a long way in a Grade 2 at Sandown in December and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him make all here. Boatswain showed ability in his first bumper start at Uttoxeter in December and can't have been right when tailed off at Warwick three weeks later.
Formwatch
Belami Des Pictons (FR) 11-10fav (11-7) Chased leading trio, 3rd before 4th, 2nd before 2 out, soon challenging, ridden betweeen last two, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Mar beating Viva Rafa (11-1) by 1l, 5 ran.
Tjongejonge (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Led, driven and headed before 2 out, weakened before last, tailed off, 7th of 8, 32 1/4l behind Label Des Obeaux (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Boatswain (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon behind, tailed off when virtually pulled up 5f out, eventually completed, 9th of 11, dist behind Mystical Knight (11-0) at Warwick 2m (6) hvy in Dec.