. WETHERBY (12 Oct 2005)

Good To Firm

4:50 Jimmy & Jane Fitzgerald Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class D) (4yo+)

[off 4:50] £5,151.25, £1,585.00, £792.50, £396.25 10 hdles (2m4f110y) 2m4½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Flotta B G Powell 6 11-4 T J Murphy 4/7F — 117+

2 1½ Love That Benny (USA) J Wade 5 10-9 P Aspell(3) 9/2 105 — 108

3 dist Common Girl (IRE) O Brennan 7 11-3 J E Moore 8/1 110 — 83

4 2½ Ambition Royal (FR) Miss Lucinda V Russell 5 10-9 P Buchanan(3) 10/1 97 — 73

5 ¾ Lazy Lena (IRE) Miss L C Siddall 6 10-5 T Siddall 50/1 75 — 65

PU Soviet Committee T J Fitzgerald 5 10-9 t P Whelan(3) 50/1 — —

PU Wotabroad K G Reveley 7 10-5 R McGrath 100/1 — —

PU Zeydnaa (IRE) C R Wilson 5 10-12 G Lee 25/1 — —

8 ran TIME 4m 53.10s (slow by 2.10s) TOTAL SP 110%

NON RUNNER: Daggy Boy (NZ)

1st OWNER: G Hatchard,R Gunn,L Gilbert & R Williams BRED: W G R Wightman TRAINER: B G Powell

2nd OWNER: John Wade

3rd OWNER: J W Hardy

TOTE WIN £1.40 PL £1.10, £1.20, £1.50; Ex £3.20; CSF £3.19

ANALYSIS: Not the most informative of contests as FLOTTA, a useful performer on the Flat, had scored in really good style on his most recent outing at Fontwell, and had by far the best credentials. Although he wasn't as impressive as last time, scoring driven out after making all, his trainer feels he may be feeling the effects of some tough races on the Flat. Powell added that the gelding needs firm ground, and that he has already been schooled over fences. He may now be put away until the spring and the Swinton Hurdle would seem a likely target before he goes novice chasing.

Flat winner, Love That Benny, who had shown plenty of promise without winning last season, ran another sound race, and even though this might flatter him a little, he was a distance clear of the remainder and should soon find a race.