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17:45 Aintree

John Smith's Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race (Grade 2) (Class 1)

  • 19 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 1f
  • Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £30,000 added
  • Winner: £17,085
  • 2nd: £6,411
  • 3rd: £3,210
  • 4th: £1,599
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 9.30s
  • Off Time: 17:46:25
  • 19 Ran
1
Silk - Purple and White check, Purple sleeves
  • Form 4-11
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 121

always towards rear, tailed off 5f out

2
Silk - Purple, Purple and Pink check sleeves

Caledonia

24 D
28/1
  • Form 1230
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 119

towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, went 3rd place inside final furlong

3
Silk - Dark Blue, White stars
25/1
  • Form 3-411
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 122

led for about 4f, chased leaders until weakened over 4f out

4
Silk - ROYAL BLUE and ORANGE check, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, ROYAL BLUE cap, ORANGE star
25/1
  • Form 431
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 118

held up towards rear, headway before 3f out, ridden before 2f out, soon weakened

5
Silk - Red and White check, White cap
  • Form 15
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 123

held up towards rear, headway before 3f out, led before 1f out, kept on well

6
Silk - Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap

Master Malt

57 BF
12/1
  • Form 2-2
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 121

held up mid-division, headway before 3f out, weakened over 2f out

7
Silk - Red, White stripe, Royal Blue sleeves, White armlets, Royal Blue cap, Red star

Mister Pagan

133 D
100/1
  • Form 1523
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 118

always towards rear, weakened over 5f out

8
Silk - Beige, grey epaulets
16/1
  • Form 1271
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 122

in touch, ridden and weakened before 3f out

9
Silk - RED, BLACK armlets
66/1
  • Form 613
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 117

with leader, ridden and outpaced before 2f out, kept on and no impression

11
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, white cap, red spots
  • Form 2231
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 127

tracked leaders in 3rd, led after about 4f, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

12
Silk - Dark Green, Maroon stars, Maroon cap
16/1
  • Form 110
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 120

held up towards rear, ridden and weakened before 3f out

13
Silk - Orange, black stars and sleeves, hooped cap

Spitz (FR)

52 BF
50/1
  • Form 316
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 117

held up mid-division, weakened before 5f out

14
Silk - Dark blue, emerald green hoop, quartered cap
2/1
  • Form 5111-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 123

in touch in 6th, led before 2f out, headed before 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

15
Silk - EMERALD GREEN, ROYAL BLUE seams and sleeves, quartered cap
50/1
  • Form 13
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 118

held up towards rear, some headway before 2f out, never dangerous

16
Silk - Royal Blue, Light Green stars on sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Light Green star

Avidity

35 D
50/1
  • Form 21
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 120

held up mid-division, weakened before 3f out

17
Silk - Dark Blue, Pink spots, sleeves and cap

Dakar Run

24 D
11/1
  • Form 11
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 119

held up towards rear, headway before 4f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on same pace

18
Silk - Black, black and maroon striped cap
5/1
  • Form 15
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 130

in touch in 5th, went 2nd before 3f out, no extra from over 1f out

19
Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap
  • Form 112
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 121

held up towards rear, headway before 3f out, chased winner before 1f out, kept on and held towards finish

20
Silk - Dark blue, white cross belts, red and white hooped sleeves and cap
  • Form 2
  • Age 4
  • Weight 10-12
  • Official Rating 120

mid-division, headway over 3f out, faded final furlong

10
NR
  • Form 146
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 129

Withdrawn

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

PURPLE BAY finished just ahead of Pure Science when fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and had Caledonia and Sgt Reckless further behind. As that was only his second run, John Ferguson's Flat-bred four-year-old may well be capable of better and can get back to winning ways on this quicker surface as he arrives with a similar profile to that of last year's winner The New One. Killyglass didn't settle at Newbury in February and should do better in time but he finished behind Vago Collonges and his yard has been in the doldrums. More interesting is impressive Naas winner Quickpick Vic while Dakar Run is also worth a second look after defying a penalty at Huntingdon. The maidens Master Malt and Wilde Blue Yonder may be the pick of the remainder ahead of Ffos Las scorer Monkey Kingdom and hat-trick-seekers Alphabetical Order and Dance Of Time, though it's interesting that the Henderson stable are running Tistory without the benefit of a recent outing.

Formwatch

Alphabetical Order 4-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway 4f out, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (5) sft in Jan beating Brijomi Queen (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.

Caledonia 40-1 (11-5) In touch on outside, lost palce 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 23, 21l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.

Dance Of Time 11-8fav (11-11) Prominent, led after 3f, went clear until over 8f out, headed 4f out, led again over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, nudged clear inside final furlong, won at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) sft in Feb beating Mystifiable (11-4) by 6l, 8 ran.

Fair Loch 10-3 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, forged clear inside final furlong, unextended, impressive, won at Catterick 2m Conditional Nat Hunt Flat Maiden (4-6yo) (6) gs in Feb beating Call Him Something (11-2) by 5l, 12 ran.

Killyglass (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd 3f out, ridden and no impression on winner over 1f out, lost 2 places in closing stages, 5th of 10, 12l behind Oscar Rock (11-3) at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) sft in Feb.

Master Malt 5-6fav (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5f out, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, not pace of winner, 2nd of 13, 13l behind Tradewinds (11-4) at Kempton 2m mdn NH flat (5) gs in Feb.

Mister Pagan 5-1 (11-4) In rear, outpaced before 3f out, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Ballyben (10-4) at Haydock 2m NH flat (4) sft in Nov.

Monkey Kingdom 11-10fav (11-3) Made all, pressed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, just held on, won at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Mar beating Champagne West (11-3) by hd, 5 ran.

Orchard Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Chased (clear) winner and clear of rest, 100 yards behind halfway, trying to close when lost 2nd 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Such A Legend (10-11) at Kempton 2m NH flat (5) gd in Feb.

Quickpick Vic (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Made all, clear halfway, travelling well and clear 3f out, pushed along briefly and stayed on strongly final furlong, easily, impressive, won at Naas 2m NH flat sft in Mar beating Couleur France (12-0) by 13l, 11 ran.

Sgt Reckless 8-1 (11-5) In touch on inside, headway over 3f out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened 1f out, 13th of 23, 34l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.

Spitz (FR) 5-4fav (11-10) Held up mid-division, effort over 3f out, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 32l behind Plan Again (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.

Tistory (FR) 8-11fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, kept on, won at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar '12 beating Court Minstrel (11-9) by 3/4l, 6 ran.

Un Ace (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Towards rear, headway over 5f out, every chance over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on and no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Purple Bay (10-7) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gd in Feb.

Avidity 15-8fav (10-3) Took keen hold in touch, went 3rd 3f out, chased leader 2f out, led and green over 1f out, still green and idled but kept on inside final furlong, won at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar beating Solo Jugadores (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.

Dakar Run Evensfav (11-1) Held up mid-division, led over 2f out, ridden entering final furlong, kept on well, won at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gs in Mar beating Long Lunch (10-5) by 1l, 8 ran.

Purple Bay (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In touch, lost place over 3f out, headway under pressure on inside over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 5th of 23, 10l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.

Vago Collonges (FR) 3-1 (10-7) Pulled hard in early stages, held up towards rear, steady headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and no impression on easy winner over 1f out, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Oscar Rock (11-3) at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) sft in Feb.

Wilde Blue Yonder (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) In touch, led over 1f out, pressed 1f out, soon headed narrowly, kept on gamely and every chance inside final furlong, held close home, 2nd of 16, hd behind Purple Bay (10-7) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gd in Feb.

Pure Science (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear on outside, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, no impression, 6th of 23, 11l behind Briar Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gs in Mar.