Racecards
16:45 Chepstow
John Smith's Premier Club Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form P-9912P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey T Messenger
mid-division, headway to chase leader 4th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 423424
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey B Hitchcott
mid-division, reminders 7th, outpaced 9th, stayed on from 5 out
- Form 5FP-663
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey C Poste
always on rear, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 3-3P4PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey G Carenza
in touch, ridden and loast place 7th, pulled up before 11th
- Form 70-845P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Paul Moloney
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, led approaching 12th, ridden when headed 5 out, weakened
Sweet Minuet
17- Form F07-562
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M Madgwick
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
in touch, close up when unseated rider 9th
- Form P/31P-P5
- Age 13
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer P R Rodford
- Jockey K Burke
mid-division, lost place after 7th and soon pulled up
- Form 463733
- Age 13
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey W T Kennedy
mid-division, headway to chase leader 7th, ridden 12th, chased winner from 3 out, no impression
- Form 3PP343
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer P G Murphy
- Jockey M Batchelor
led 3rd, blundered 4th, headed next, led briefly 11th, ridden next, weakened 4 out
- Form 67F2P4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey A Thornton
started slowly, rushed up to lead 1st, headed 3rd, stayed prominent until ridden 12th and one pace from next
- Form 3643PP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 78
always in rear, reminder 7th, pulled up before 10th
- Form 48P312
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey J Pritchard
in touch, mistake 3rd, led 5th, headed after 10th, weakened 12th and pulled up beofre 3 out
- Form 7863P3
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey P Merrigan
always in rear, lost touch 8th, pulled up before 11th
- Form S2366U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 75
mid-division, headed to go in touch 7th, ridden 13th, led next, clear 4 out, unchallenged
- Form 73U4P/4
- Age 12
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Mrs L J Young
- Jockey R Young
always in rear, lost touch 12th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form PP3P23
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 81
In depth
Verdict
This is a race that looks as tough to call as the big one at Aintree and what can only be a tentative vote goes to Jacarado, who is preferred to Southerndown and Paddy The Optimist. The last mentioned has slipped to an attractive mark and would have solid claims if able to bounce back to form but there is no guarantee of that. Sweet Minuet had little chance behind Reveillez at Folkestone two starts ago but lost little in defeat in more suitable company last time and has claims on that evidence. General O'Keeffe has been pulled up in his last three starts and is probably best watched, while Zimbabwe has yet to win a race and is hard to back with confidence to do so here. Sissinghurst Storm has a nice racing weight and is another to consider along with the consistent Southerndown. Jacarado has not done much wrong of late though and he gets the vote to resume winning ways.
Formwatch
Five Alley (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 13, 29l behind Calusa Charlie (11-2) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Sweet Minuet 16-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden 7th, chased winner 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Better Moment (11-4) at Chepstow 2m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Mar.
Southerndown (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden and outpaced 5 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 12l behind River of Light (10-11) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Mar.
Zimbabwe (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until after 13th, 4th of 15, 38l behind Valley Warrior (9-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Jacarado (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 4th, jumped right 9th and 2 out, ridden to lead briefly, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Parkinson (10-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-88 (5) hvy in Mar.
Paddy The Optimist (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden to lead and hit 2 out, soon headed and weakened, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Valley Warrior (9-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar.
Sissinghurst Storm (IRE) 11-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, 7 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider at the 14th in race won by Valley Warrior (9-8) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
General O'Keeffe 9-4fav (12-0) 3rd of 12, 9l behind Zesta Fiesta (12-0) at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Mar.