| Course: HAYDOCK | Race date:18/02/06 | Race time:12:40 | Runners:6 |
| Race distance:2m7½f | Going:Heavy | Winners time:6m 8.40s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neptune Collonges | Christian Williams | P F Nicholls | 11-11 | 5 | 129 | 152 | 2/11F | 1.38 | 1.2 | 1.15 | 1.01 | 1 | ||
| Five Colours | Wayne Hutchinson | A King | 11-8 | 6 | 123 | 125 | 16/1 | 85 | 20.58 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Rathowen | G Lee | J I A Charlton | 11-8 | 7 | 117 | 110 | 25/1 | 40 | 32.51 | 15.5 | 25 | 3 | 5 | |
| Accordello | Richard McGrath | K G Reveley | 10-11 | 5 | 106 | 0 | 50/1 | 95 | 57.84 | 12.5 | 38 | 4 | nk | |
| Jeremy Cuddle Duck | Tony Evans | N A Twiston-Davies | 11-11 | 5 | 120 | 0 | 16/1 | 29 | 21.96 | 8 | 21 | 5 | ¾ | |
| Gritti Palace | Mark Nicolls | John R Upson | 11-8 | 6 | 97 | 120 | 33/1 | 95 | 46.82 | 22 | 50 | 6 | 19 |
Allowed to go on at the second flight, he was allowed the luxury of a soft lead thereafter. Gradually increasing the modest pace with about a mile to race, he did not, however, shake off his pursuers, even though he had them on the stretch before the end of the back straight. From two out, he faced only one real danger, from the runner-up, and the pair jumped the last as one before Neptune Collonges dug deep under pressure to seal this prize.
A chaser in the making, and potentially a high-class one, he is a horse for the future. In the meantime, weather and ground conditions will probably determine his prospects of gaining further important success in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Rathowen, raised in class, acquitted himself well, but was found wanting from the second last.
Accordello, stepping-up in distance for only her second try over hurdles, looked like a novice, but ran a fair race to finish fourth. Dropped in class, she looks sure to make her mark.
Jeremy Cuddle Duck, who was keener than ideal, kept on to his credit, having looked to be in trouble at the end of the back straight.
Gritti Palace found this company too hot.
Racing results courtesy of racing post. Please note that ever effort is made to ensure results are correct but I accept no liability for mistakes. The data is provided as a free service.
Please visit my Blog or sign up to my racing forum for the latest news and views.