Racecards
13:20 Newbury
Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively At Betfair Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 69y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 22F2-41
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
pulled hard tracking leader, led after 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, rallied and every chance before last, kept on under pressure closing stages
- Form /-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
led, headed after 2nd, remained prominent, led again before 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
- Form 6PP
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Jim Best
- Jockey Joshua Moore
pulled hard tracking leader, mistake and lost place 4th, under pressure next, soon weakened, tailed off 3 out, behind when pulled up after next
- Form 45
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Hughes
- Jockey Brendan Powell
in touch on outside, jumped badly left 1st, soon chasing leaders, weakened after 4 out
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A King
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leaders, hampered 1st, effort 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
- Form 125
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
pulled hhard tracking leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, led approaching when jumped left last, ran on strongly
- Form 52-214
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer B Barr
- Jockey Michael Heard
chased leaders, hampered and lost place 1st, rallied to track leaders 4th, weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up after 2 out
Verdict
Now he's got his head in front it should be worth following EMERGING TALENT, who had been placed in Grade 2 and Listed races before getting off the mark in minor company at Exeter. Meet The Legend faced a stiff task behind Altior on his hurdling debut at Kempton on Boxing Day and was found wanting. That experience will not have been lost on his, however, and he remains a nice prospect. Argante, who won four times on the Flat, and the unraced Herewego Herewego are newcomers to note but Burning Desire and Shanandoa may need their sights lowering.
Formwatch
Emerging Talent (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, clear from next, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) hvy in Jan beating Gala Ball (11-5) by 8l, 18 ran.
Argante (FR) 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, never a threat, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Gang Warfare (9-12) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Bobby Benton (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Pulled hard in mid-division, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before last, at Plumpton 2m mdn (5) hvy in Feb.
Burning Desire (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden and lost place 3f out, rallied inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 6 3/4l behind Megara (8-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Herewego Herewego (IRE) Kalanisi gelding out of Downtown Train.
Meet The Legend 5-1 (11-0) Keen, held up, effort 3 out, no impression from 2 out, 5th of 10, 21 1/4l behind Altior (11-8) at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Shanandoa 4-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, driven to chase clear pair after 3 out, lost modest 3rd between last 2, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 37l behind Mystic Sky (10-10) at Fakenham 2m (4) gs in Dec.