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15:35 Hereford

Greg Thomas Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)

  • 9 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £7,500 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 53.70s
  • Off Time: 15:35:30
  • 9 Ran
1
Silk - Royal blue, red star, red sleeves, black stars, royal blue cap, red star
  • Form 1211
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-5

led to 2nd, remained prominent, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, led last, driven out

2
Silk - Red, brown hoop and armlets, brown and red striped cap
  • Form 5/900-0
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, outpaced after 7th, rallied last, stayed on well flat

3
Silk - Black, White Cross of Lorraine, Red sleeves, White armlets, White cap
  • Form 80-9
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

chased leaders until weakened approaching 7th, tailed off

4
Silk - Light blue, black sash, armlets and hoop on cap
10/1
  • Form 9-34
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, soon outpaced, rallied last, stayed on flat

5
Silk - Dark Blue and White diabolo, hooped sleeves and cap
  • Form 5246-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 113

always prominent, led after 4th, hung left and headed last, stayed on flat

6
Silk - White and Red stripes, Black and White halved sleeves, Black cap
  • Form 2-1
  • Age 5
  • Weight 10-12

mid-division, headway 4th, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, every chance when mistake last, edged left flat, no extra

7
Silk - BLACK and WHITE check, YELLOW sleeves, BLACK and WHITE quartered cap
28/1
  • Form 307/08-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12

pressed leader, led 2nd until after 4th, blundered 5th, rider lost iron briefly, not recover, pulled up before next

8
Silk - Purple and Royal Blue diamonds, Royal Blue sleeves and cap
14/1
  • Form 35/
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-12

in rear, headway approaching 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off

9
Silk - Maroon, Grey chevron, sleeves and diamond on cap
100/1
  • Form 8-690
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-5

mistake 5th, always in rear

In depth

Verdict

THE JIGSAW MAN has done nothing wrong to date and can win again at the main expense of Peppertree Lane, Ravethebrave and Calusa Shadow. The selection has to give weight away to all of his rivals however he is a horse of some potential. He didn't exactly win by a country mile on his hurdling bow at Cheltenham but he showed a good attitude and it would be a surprise were he not to run well. Calusa Shadow has his first start over hurdles this afternoon. His dam was decent enough and his jockey is good value for his 10lb claim. Peppertree Lane was classy on the flat but so far he has not produced much over hurdles. His former trainer always felt that he would be much more interesting on better ground and he is not one to take lightly. Ravethebrave romped home in an Irish point-to-point back in March and has his first start for a top yard today. He races in the same colours as one of last season's top novices Karabak and he looks very much of interest. Azulada Bay has run in some good races and this is no exception, whilst Zaif was a Brighton winner on the flat last month but his previous hurdling form needs improving on. An intriguing race, where we will plump for The Jigsaw Man.

Formwatch

The Jigsaw Man (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Made all, not fluent 1st, 5 lengths ahead 2 out, hard driven and pressed after last, held on well, won at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct beating William Hogarth (10-11) by nk, 9 ran.

Azulada Bay (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up in rear on outside, not fluent 6th, struggling from next, tailed off, 10th of 14, well behind Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.

Brookfieldshector (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Prominent, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Emperor Concerto (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.

Calusa Shadow 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 7f out, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 15, 6l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gs in May.

Peppertree Lane (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden behind leaders 3 out, weakened approachoing 2 out, 6th of 19, 36l behind Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.

Ravethebrave (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Mid div, prog to trk ldrs from 5th, effort from 3out to ld 2out, ran on clr, won at Donore 3m ire ptp in May beating Tirob (12-0) by 20l, 17 ran.

Waldenstroem (GER) 33-1 (10-11) Never a factor, 8th of 14, 33l behind Jeepstar (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Nov '08.

Zaif (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Chased clear leader, led briefly approaching 2 out, soon ridden, one pace approaching last, 5th of 18, 20l behind Song of Songs (11-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb '08.

Riverbank Ruby 250-1 (10-7) Ran green, not jumped well, soon tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Wester Ross (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct.