Racecards
15:45 Newbury
Vodafone Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 21U113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey L Heard
held up, smooth headway 3 out, challenged on bit from 2 out, left in lead last, shaken up flat, jinked left, ran on well
- Form F6P-236
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 1042P4
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey R Thornton
with leader, every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 202163-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
made most, mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened last
- Form 2-1332
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer C J Mann
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up towards rear, steady headway from after 2nd, went 3rd 5th, led going well after 2 out, hard pressed when fell last
Classic Role
20- Form 2-25
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 122
took keen hold, held up, mistake 5th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 11211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey A P McCoy
in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, last approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat, never dangerous
- Form 43-2161
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in touch, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, edged left and left 2nd last, stayed on flat, no chance with winner
Topkat (IRE)
18- Form 531
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T J Malone
held up towards rear, fell 3rd
- Form 522-125
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch, lost place approaching 5th, staying on same pace when mistake 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 10-PP57
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey Jim Crowley
prominent, ridden and lost place 5th, soon weakened
- Form 1-F4447
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 12561
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey P Hide
mid-division, mistake 5th, headway approaching 3 out, close up after 2 out, disputing 3rd when mistake last, no extra flat
- Form 71-24U8
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey R Young
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 4th
Verdict
Tokala, Desert Quest and Pirate Flagship are three against the field in another open affair and the tentative vote is given to Tokala. The selection won well last time out when beating Commander Kev. That form has since been franked and off what looks a fair mark he looks the one to be on. Desert Quest rates the main danger on his latest third behind Acambo but he is a quirky sort and at the likely odds under his big weight he looks worth taking on. Pirate Flagship is another last time out winner who could go well as he beat Armariver last time but he gave the impression he would be suited by a longer trip on that occasion and under his penalty he looks vulnerable over this trip. Greenhope is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he may just need the run after a 323 day absence. Of the remainder, Topkat won with plenty in hand last time and looks to be on a handy mark so should be noted in the market but for the winner we return to the progressive Tokala.
Formwatch
Desert Quest (IRE) 7-4fav (10-5) Held up, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 6l behind Acambo (10-9) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Goldbrook 66-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden 3 out, stayed on from after 2 out until one pace flat, 6th of 9, 22l behind Briareus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Amour Multiple (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed after 6th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 17, 7l behind Turko (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Greenhope (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Tracked winner, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 5, 23l behind Locksmith (11-7) at Ayr 2m nov chs (C) gd in Apr.
Fandani (GER) 5-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway 5th, mistake 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 16l behind Natal (11-8) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (C) gd in Nov.
Classic Role 16-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, ridden and effort 2 out, one pace, 5th of 11, 29l behind Noland (11-11) at Exeter 2m 1f lst nov hdl (1) gs in Feb.
Tokala 4-9fav (11-8) With leader, led 6th, headed approaching last, regained lead run-in, won at Fakenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Jan beating Commander Kev (11-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Pirate Flagship (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, jumped right last, challenging when short of room and hampered on rails flat, rallied and just failed, promoted and placed 1st, 2nd of 15, shd behind Armariver (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Jan. Later aw.
Topkat (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway between last 2, led approaching last, stayed on, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Border Castle (11-10) by 5l, 13 ran.
Allumee 12-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 20l behind Andreas (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb.
Broke Road (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 14, 18l behind Prairie Moonlight (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Jan.
Predicament 7-2 (10-12) Held up, headway after 12th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, 27l behind Day Of Claies (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Anticipating 7-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, smooth headway 6th, led 2 out, clear last, eased flat, won at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (D) gd in Nov beating Quartier Latin (10-12) by 5l, 16 ran.
Kawagino (IRE) 15-2 (10-8) Always behind not jump well throughout, never a factor, 8th of 11, 14l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Salut Saint Cloud 25-1 (11-0) In rear, headway 4th to mid-division, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Material World (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb, 20 ran.