Racecards
14:20 Sedgefield
Nortonthorpe Staff At Wits End Novices' Hurdle (John Wade And Collins Seafoods Ltd Hurdle Series Qualifer) (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £3,900 added
- Winner: £2,534
- 2nd: £744
- 3rd: £372
- 4th: £186
- Form 7161F3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey A P McCoy
made all, soon clear, hit 3 out, not fluent last, ridden flat, kept on well
- Form 3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch in 4th and keen, left 3rd from 4 out, no impression
- Form 48/8-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs E Slack
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
always behind, tailed off from 4 out
Grimwith
192- Form 40-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss L Kendall
- Jockey Harry Haynes
held up mid-division, struggling from 4 out
Jameel (USA)
347- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leaders in 3rd, left 2nd 4 out, ridden before last, no impression on winner
- Form 36-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B Haslam
- Jockey Craig Gallagher
held up towards rear, some headway from before 3 out, went a remote 4th from last, one pace
Politbureau
13- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Jake Greenall
rear division, struggling from 4 out
- Form 223S-F3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Miss J R Richards
held up mid-division, ridden and in 4th when weakening 3 out, jumped badly right and lost 4th place last
Wendy'sgreyhorse
135- Form 7/7-6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer G A Harker
- Jockey B P Harding
held up towards rear and keen, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
Verdict
Despite finishing last of three when favourite at Stratford in August, McCoy keeps faith with Ahyaknowyerself and Richard Newlands' dual winner sets the standard here. It will, however, be a surprise if HONG KONG ISLAND doesn't develop into a decent novice and the McCain gelding can make a winning debut over timber. He didn't manage a win on the level this year but was placed on several occasions and is still rated 84, suggesting he'll be much too classy for these. Politbureau won over 1m4f at Newcastle in June and should also do well at the winter game but Jameel may need this. Ffos Las third Garth Mountain is preferred to That'll Do Nicely of the others.
Formwatch
Ahyaknowyerself (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, reminders from 6th and outpaced, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, last of 3, 8l behind Next Exit (10-12) at Stratford 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug.
Garth Mountain 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leading trio, chased winner 2nd, led briefly soon after, lost 2nd soon after 4 out, no extra in 3rd before next, 3rd of 5, 15l behind Vegas Cash (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Aug.
Grand Vintage (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, outpaced before 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 8th of 14, 31l behind Simply Ned (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct '11.
Grimwith 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, pushed along and lost place over 4f out, 11th of 13, well behind Eduard (10-10) at Kelso 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Gumnd (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, lost place towards finish, 6th of 9, 9l behind Twenty One Choice (9-3) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Sep (flat).
Hong Kong Island (IRE) 3-1 (9-12) In touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Expert Fighter (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul (flat).
Jameel (USA) 8-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, led approaching final 2f, riddeen and headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Dhaular Dhar (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct '11 (flat).
Operateur (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd, pushed along next, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 8, 42l behind Bernisdale (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd in Sep '11.
Politbureau 12-1 (8-11) In touch in 5th on inside, went 4th 5f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, driven along final 2f, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 16, 4l behind Praxios (8-11) at Beverley 1m app stks (6) fm in Sep (flat).
That'll Do Nicely (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out briefly, one pace from next, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Quinsman (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Wendy'sgreyhorse 25-1 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 37l behind Wake Your Dreams (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in May.
Marico (FR) 33-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place and pushed along 6f out, 9th of 12, 39l behind Sandanski (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f cond NH flat (6) gs in Apr.