WETHERBY (11 May 2006)

Good To Firm

7:40 Jewson Novices' Hurdle (Series Qualifier) (class 4) (4yo+)

[off 7:41] £3,903.60, £1,146.00, £573.00, £286.20 10 hdles (2m4f110y) 2m4½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Panzer (GER) D McCain 5 10-11 Stephen Craine(3) 100/30 96 — —

2 1½ Bestofthebrownies (IRE) J Howard Johnson 5 11-0 Paddy Brennan 6/1 — —

3 3½ Double Gin W Amos 6 10-11 Gary Berridge(3) 10/1 — —

4 12 Witch Power A M Crow 5 10-2 t Declan McGann(5) 8/1 95 — —

5 4 Hightori Mrs S J Smith 6 11-0 David O´Meara 40/1 — —

6 18 In Dream´s (IRE) M A Barnes 4 10-9 t Jim Crowley 4/1 95 — —

7 2 Red Square Run M W Easterby 4 10-6 Mr T Greenall(3) 66/1 — —

8 10 The Saltire Tiger Mrs L B Normile 5 10-9 Des Flavin(5) 100/1 — —

9 shd Dantor M A Barnes 4 10-9 t Padge Whelan 100/1 — —

10 shd Wiljen (IRE) B S Rothwell 6 10-7 Anthony Ross 100/1 — —

11 nk Solemn Vow P Maddison 5 10-7 Tom Siddall 80/1 64 — —

F Mr Strachan (IRE) Mrs S J Smith 5 11-0 Dominic Elsworth 3/1F — —

12 ran TIME 5m 1.40s (slow by 12.40s) TOTAL SP 110%

1st OWNER: Brendan Richardson and Jon Glews BRED: Baron N C J Rothschild TRAINER: D McCain

2nd OWNER: Andrea & Graham Wylie

3rd OWNER: Mrs C A Warden

TOTE WIN £5.10 PL £1.70, £1.80, £1.60; Ex £30.80; CSF £21.79

ANALYSIS: Another extremely ordinary novice hurdle but one which once again went to a runner from the McCain operation.

PANZER has been called plenty of names in the past but his resolution could not be faulted here for he had to work to see off Bestofthebrownies, which he did convincingly after seeing off that opponent soon after the final flight. This was his best run since his Catterick second to Zeitgeist, but he didn't actually have to do a lot to win, so it would be unwise to get carried away. Long term he will jump a fence, but in the short term he will race on for the next few weeks.

Bestofthebrownies was twice placed in Irish bumpers before a shocking British debut last month. After initially taking a strong hold, he travelled easily for Paddy Brennan, but he found very little for pressure once the battle ensued, so although this was a much more encouraging start it also raised doubts about the gelding.

Double Gin performed creditably on his first start for 147 days but he was left behind by the front two over the final two flights, while Witch Power had every chance, and this is probably as good as she is.

Hightori ran quite nicely on his debut, while stablemate Mr Strachan was in the process of making a pleasing hurdling debut when crashing out two out.