Racecards
17:20 Ascot
Landsbanki Apprentice Handicap (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £11,000 added
- Form 131121
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P W D'Arcy
- Jockey G Bartley
held up, switched left and headway 2f out, soon ridden, went 2nd over 1f out, tried to challenge winner entering final furlong, always held
- Form 81-4111
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey W Buick
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led well over 1f out, driven out
- Form 111633
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey R Kennemore
led, hard ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 476-124
- Age 8
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer John Berry
- Jockey L Morris
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 055-162
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Mrs P N Dutfield
- Jockey J Mitchell
held up well off pace in rear, closed on pack 3f out, soon switched left and ridden, no impression until stayed on final furlong
- Form 414140
- Age 7
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey Nicol Polli
held up, ridden and switched left over 2f out, no impression until stayed on final furlong
- Form 275461
- Age 5
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey Sonia Eaton
very keen early, in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
In depth
Verdict
Hatton Flight is selected ahead of Sir Duke and Brief Goodbye. The selection may just be a class above his rivals and has been well campaigned by his trainer this season to follow a promising reappearance with three victories on the bounce. He hasn't been too harshly treated by the handicapper and his trainer has remarked that he has the ability to win 'a nice staying handicap'. In the meantime, Andrew Balding has found him a nice opportunity to make it four wins from five starts in 2008. Sir Duke has won four from six and clearly won't be an easy nut to crack. He's still improving and connections believe that he could develop into an Ebor horse for next year. It's not easy to envisage the remainder giving that pair too much to do but Brief Goodbye has more than held his own in some competitive handicaps over the years and is feasibly treated at present. Unlike the other two though, he's not getting any better and he's likely to have to settle for a minor role at best behind our selection, Hatton Flight.
Formwatch
Sir Duke (IRE) 15-8fav (9-2) In touch, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating New Beginning (9-2) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Hatton Flight 10-11fav (9-7) Held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, pushed out final furlong, won at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm in Jun beating Charlotte Vale (9-6) by 2l, 4 ran.
Stringsofmyheart 9-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2l behind La Vecchia Scuola (9-1) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Brief Goodbye 17-2 (8-13) Prominent in 4th, effort and chased winner 2f out, lost 2nd 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 8l behind Desert Sea (9-9) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun.
Colonel Flay 6-1 (9-1) Held up behind, ridden and switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Double Spectre (8-13) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Bienheureux 8-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway 5f out, beaten over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 7l behind Thorny Mandate (9-7) at Chester 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Opera Writer (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Raced keenly, always prominent, led over 3f out, ridden out, won at Warwick 1m 5f app hcp (6) gf beating Sky Chart (8-4) by 1l, 12 ran.