Racecards
15:20 Brighton
Digibet.com Handicap (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 196y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £11,500 added
- Winner: £7,165
- 2nd: £2,145
- 3rd: £1,072
- 4th: £537
- Form 14-0100
- Age 4
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Sir Mark Prescott
- Jockey S Sanders
keen with leader until led over 7f out, ridden over 3f out, headed 2f out, chased winner until weakened final furlong
- Form 013851
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Greg Fairley
in touch, tracked leaders after 3f, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 274746
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey I Mongan
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 737884
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey R Ffrench
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out soon outpaced, kept on inside final furlong
- Form 412561
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer R Ford
- Jockey T P Queally
keen led, headed over 7f out, with leader until over 2f out, weakening when slightly hampered over 1f out
- Form 355147
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
dwelt in rear, ridden over 3f out, not trouble leaders
- Form 533312
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 78
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, chased winner entering final furlong, no impression
- Form 9432-01
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey J Quinn
held up, headway to lead 2f out, soon 2 lengths clear, ran on final furlong, eased near finish, readily
In depth
Verdict
First-time blinkers make Safari Sunup of interest, but on balance he has never really convinced over this far and preference is for RECORD BREAKER. Mark Johnston is double-handed in the race and we just prefer this six-year-old for whom trip and ground suit, while he is on a decent mark and showed signs of a return to form at Catterick last time. Spirit Is Needed was the easy winner of a claimer at Newmarket last time but he found handicapping tough from these sort of marks prior to that and is taken on again today. First Fandango will have his work cut out at these weights but has frame claims and a better proposition looks to be Goodwood winner Harlestone Times who may well find improvement for this longer trip.
Formwatch
Fortuni (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 11th of 16, 12l behind Precision Break (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-110 (2) gd.
Spirit Is Needed (IRE) 15-8fav (9-4) Made all, joined 8f out until over 3f out, clear over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 4f clm stks (4) gd beating Dance The Star (8-13) by 4l, 8 ran.
Safari Sunup (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, rallied and headway over 1f out, soon edged right and one pace, 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Psychic Ability (8-11) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) gd.
Record Breaker (IRE) 15-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, switched right and effort over 1f out, no extra closing stsges, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind Arizona John (9-0) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Inspirina (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Keen tracked leader, led over 7f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Epsom Downs 1m 4f ldy hcp (4) gd in Aug beating Top Mark (10-0) by 4l, 8 ran.
Goodwood Starlight (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Held up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 25l behind Sparkling Smile (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
First Fandango 10-1 (9-0) In rear, headway and switched left over 1f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Epic (9-4) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Harlestone Times (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft beating Fanditha (9-11) by 1/2l, 10 ran.