Racecards
13:30 Southwell
Connolly's Red Mills Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
Frontier Vic
132- Form 3232-22
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
held up in last pair, not fluent 6th, headway into 3rd after 12th, ridden to challenge approaching 3 out, ridden and beaten soon after 3 out
- Form 0529-65
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
tracked leading trio, left tracking leading pair at 3rd, mistake 4th, fell 8th
- Form 45-0P24
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Raymond O'Brien
hit 1st, jumped well after, held up in last pair early, headway tracking leaders 5th, 2nd 8th, led after next, in command before 2 out, eased close home
- Form 164-366
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey Jonathan England
held up, went modest 4th 14th, outpaced and no threat after
- Form 1/17765-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey T J O'Brien
chased leader, led 8th until after next, chased winner, challenged between horses 3 out, held when stumbled next
- Form 3-3PP32
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer H J Evans
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
chased leaders, fell 3rd
- Form 452/645
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer J Hughes
- Jockey James Davies
led until 8th and dropped to 3rd, reminders and lost 3rd after 12th, jumped right from 13th, dropped to rear next, tailed off
Verdict
Minella Bliss likes a test of stamina though was flattered by his proximity to What A Good Night at Uttoxeter last week and a strike-rate of 1-35 isn't encouraging. FRONTIER VIC is a half-brother to a winning stayer over fences and has always looked a chaser in the making. He was running well when last seen over timber in the summer and though carrying a big weight looks the type to go on to better things so should take this. Upbeat Cobbler won a handicap hurdle over this trip a year ago from a higher mark and will have learnt from his debut over fences in April while Vujiyama, a winning bumper in France, is likely to do better over fences though he may need more experience. Next Hight makes his debut over the bigger obstacles but hasn't exactly been consistent over timber.
Formwatch
Frontier Vic 13-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, led before 3 out, not fluent and headed last, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Masterofdeception (11-1) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Trillerin Minella (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leader, led 4 out until approaching next, chased leaders and stayed on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 10, 13l behind Bedouin Bay (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in May.
Vujiyama (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd or 7th, went 2nd from 9th until after 10th, no impression after 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 12, well behind The Omen (9-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Next Hight (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 12l behind Bless The Wings (11-12) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Upbeat Cobbler (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 12, 24l behind Fair Bramble (11-7) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcap ch (4) gd in Apr.
Minella Bliss (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on, no chance with eased down winner, 2nd of 6, 1l behind What A Good Night (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp 0-100 (5) gs.
Argentato 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 6th, mistake 7th, behind when not fluent next, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Garrahalish (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov chs (4) gf.