Racecards
14:00 Leicester
EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 24-3217
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leaders on outside, mistake 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, hung left flat, driven out
- Form 7
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 5th or 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
mid-division, not that fluent, headway before 7th, weakened 2 out
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Bailey
- Jockey A Thornton
mid-division, lost place when mistake 6th, behind from next
- Form 4-6554P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey T E Whelan
not always fluent, In rear, behind 7th
- Form 215-FP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey David Bass
led, not fluent 4th, headed 2 out, lost 2nd and held towards finish
- Form 120-214
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, no extra from 2 out
Verdict
AS DE MEE (NAP) carried a big weight to victory in a novices' handicap over an extended two miles at Sandown before running well for a long way over this trip at Cheltenham. He has to concede plenty of weight to Millicent Silver, who beat a small field at Lingfield in good style before finding three miles too far at Haydock, but should be up to the task. Tara Mist also receives lumps of weight from Paul Nicholls' charge and she probably found 2m1f too short at Taunton after scoring at around this trip at Ludlow - she is probably the main threat. Becauseshesaidso was well supported on his debut in a Carlisle bumper and, though he had to work hard, gave the impression he would do well when tackling hurdles so he's another worth noting.
Formwatch
As De Mee (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent last, no extra, 7th of 8, 13l behind Thomas Brown (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Another Luso (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened before 4f out, 7th of 9, well behind Herbert Park (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
Becauseshesaidso (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) In touch, headway to lead 3f out, ridden and joined 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied to lead again near finish, won at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) sft in Oct beating Court Dismissed (11-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Carlo Rocks (IRE) Carlo Bank gelding out of Rock Garden.
Looks Like Magic 66-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, headway to lead 6th until approaching 4 out, chased leader until after 3 out, soon weakened, poor 5th when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Kingscourt Native (11-2) at Kempton 3m nh nov hdl (3) sft, 6 ran.
Thedrinkymeister (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led until before 8th, weakened before next, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by In The Rough (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Very Live (FR) Secret Singer gelding out of Iona Will.
Millicent Silver 4-1 (10-3) Tracked winner, ridden 4 out, weakened after next, 4th of 6, 14l behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec.
Tara Mist 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led after 2nd until after bypassing omitted 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 12, 20l behind Tara Point (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f Listed nov hdle (1) sft in Dec.
Send For Katie (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 49l behind Delgany Demon (10-12) at Southwell 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.