Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Winter Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) 2m 4f
- (4yo+, 2m 4f, Class 1, 5 runners)
- Winner £12,529 2nd £4,701 3rd £2,354 4th £1,173 5th £590 6th £295
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
Print| Pos | Horse | Distance/th> | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 Taquin Du Seuil | 15/8 | |
| 2nd | 2 Le Bec | 6 | 8/1 |
Racecard
| # | Form | Horse | A | Wgt | Trainer | Jockey | OR | Naps | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6245-21 |
|
6 | 158 11-4 | P R Webber | D F O'Regan | 119 | 14/1 | |
| 2 | 23-1 |
|
4 | 158 11-4 | Miss E C Lavelle | D C Costello | 8/1 | ||
| 3 | 34-1 |
|
4 | 154 11-0 | P F Nicholls | R Walsh | 6/4f | ||
| 4 | 12 |
|
5 | 154 11-0 | Jonjo O'Neill | A P McCoy | 134 | 15/8 | |
| 5 | F1-1 |
|
4 | 154 11-0 | D McCain Jnr | J M Maguire | 9/2 |
Race History
| Year | Draw | Horse | A | Wgt | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 |
Fingal Bay (IRE)
|
5 | 11-7 | P J Hobbs | R Johnson | 4/5 |
In depth
Verdict
Dunlough Bay found plenty for pressure when scoring on soft ground at Lingfield but needs more to defy a penalty in this. Le Bec's jumping was far from foot-perfect at Kempton but he still won easily, though he also has 4lb extra to carry. TAQUIN DU SEUIL made a winning start over hurdles at Uttoxeter in October and it was only in the latter stages that he gave best to My Tent Or Yours at Ascot last month. A reproduction of that form may well suffice here with Southfield Theatre and Up And Go both tackling hurdles for the first time. Both of the latter still look decent prospects however.
Formwatch
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Chased leading pair, went 2nd after 2nd until after 5th, went 2nd again after 3 out, led before 2 out, soon joined, headed just before last, pressed winner under pressure, no extra final 150 yards, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind My Tent Or Yours (10-12) at Ascot 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Le Bec (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 2 out where blundered, clear when not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Definite Chance (10-12) by 11l, 12 ran.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway over 5f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m NH flat (4) gs in Oct beating Monkey Kingdom (11-7) by 5l, 17 ran.
Dunlough Bay (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged on bit and awkward 2 out, soon narrow lead, quickened to assert before last, shaken up and came readily clear flat, won at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Nov beating Oscar Magic (10-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Up And Go (FR) 1-3fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led on bit over 2f out, ridden and quickened final furlong, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov beating Key To The West (11-0) by 7l, 5 ran.