Racecards
15:00 Ascot
Sodexo Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £31,280
- 2nd: £9,240
- 3rd: £4,620
- 4th: £2,310
- Form 12U5-07
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Aodhagan Conlon
held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway approaching 12th, pushed along after 13th, weakened before 3 out
- Form 1211-3P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr H Derham
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 5th, travelling well after 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner but well clear of 3rd
Renard (FR)
21- Form 06-7811
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
took keen hold tracking leading pair, went 2nd 8th, pushed along and outpaced in 4th before 2 out
- Form 1523-1R
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N D Fehily
tracked leaders on outside, led before 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly
- Form 1-039U1
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd and mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 16-2473
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leader until 8th, stayed well there, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 0-45702
- Age 10
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey P E Corbett
tracked leaders until dropped to rear 11th, behind when blundered and weakened 13th, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Renard has now won three times at Chepstow but has been successful on right-handed tracks, though never off a mark this high. Paul Nicholls' pair, Grandioso and Bury Parade, have questions to answer at present while the handicapper is refusing to release his grip on veteran Big Fella Thanks but Tatenen is still on a decent mark despite returning to form at Newbury and he appears to have the beating of Gus Macrae, second over a shorter trip here four weeks ago, on the form book. WHAT A WARRIOR was held up and could never quite get on terms with Houblon Des Obeaux and Cedre Bleu over 3m here last time but he'll be ridden closer to the pace over this shorter trip and can open his seasonal account as he's 14lb better off than when only seventh to Tatenen earlier. Taunton winner Theatrical Star is 7lb higher but could figure if his jumping doesn't let him down.
Formwatch
Big Fella Thanks 25-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway and went 7th 5 out, went 4th before elbow, no chance with leaders and faded, 7th of 22, 21l behind Chance Du Roy (10-6) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Dec.
Grandioso (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 9th (water), soon pulled up, in a race won by Double Ross (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Renard (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, clear approaching last, pushed out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec beating Tranquil Sea (11-8) by 12l, 11 ran.
Bury Parade (IRE) 4-9fav (11-7) Refused to race, in a race won by Desert Cry (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f grad ch (2) sft in Dec, 4 ran.
Theatrical Star 7-2 (11-12) Led and disputed, advantage 9th, joined 2 out, soon in command, clear before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Mic's Delight (11-2) by 7l, 6 ran.
What A Warrior (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, ridden and plugging on in 5th when hung right before 2 out, went 3rd 2 out and continued to hang right, no impression on leading duo, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-6) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 8-1 (9-12) Chased leader, led approaching 2 out, driven and headed last, soon one pace, rallied and stayed on in closing stages, always just held, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Lancetto (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec.
Tatenen (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Towards rear, badly hampered on inside on bend after 12th, steady headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, driven and in command between last 2, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Carrigmorna King (11-6) by 8l, 18 ran.