Racecards
15:55 Chepstow
John Ayres Memorial Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 98y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £15,825
- 2nd: £4,675
- 3rd: £2,338
- 4th: £1,170
- Form 53F103-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Paul O'Brien
close up, stumbled on bend from stands, led 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish
Top Gamble (IRE)
176- Form 111251-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 154
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
Present View
260- Form 211/236-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Brendan Powell
held up in touch, went 3rd from 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on
- Form 54/146U-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
led, headed before 5 out, outpaced before 3 out
- Form 531033-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders, lost place halfway, soon in rear
- Form 521512-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, ridden before last, kept on
- Form 47200F-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
tracked leader, led before 5 out, headed 4 out, rallied run-in to regain lead towards finish
- Form 12232U-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
in rear, headway before 5 out, ridden in 3rd before last, kept on
- Form 4114PP-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, weakened next
In depth
Verdict
Third Intention has a touch of class and TOP GAMBLE (NAP) won a Grade 2 novice event by 10 lengths at Ayr in the spring. Kerry Lee's seven-year-old was flattered by the margin of victory that day but matured with experience last season and connections may have found his best trip. He's just preferred to Present View, who ran well in some tough handicaps last term but didn't manage a win. Howlongisafoot rarely ran a bad race last season but looks a few pounds too high in the weights on his return. Jockey bookings suggest Filbert is the pick of Philip Hobbs' pair and he's preferred to Astracad of the others.
Formwatch
Third Intention (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leader, led 11th, ridden and headed last, chased winner until final 10 yards, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 6f lst (1) gd in Apr.
Top Gamble (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway before and mistake 12th, led 3 out and left clear, ran on strongly, won at Ayr 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr beating Seventh Sky (11-7) by 10l, 5 ran.
Present View 6-1fav (11-5) Held up, headway on outside 2 out, ridden and one pace before last, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 21 1/2l behind Ordo Ab Chao (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Ballygarvey (FR) 50-1 (10-10) Behind when hampered and unseated rider 5th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Filbert (IRE) 10-3fav (11-4) Held up, mistake 1st, went 3rd from 8th, outpaced after 4 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 11 1/4l behind Witness In Court (11-1) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Howlongisafoot (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leading trio, 3rd before 5th, hit 13th and next, pushed along into 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 26l behind Cocktails At Dawn (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Astracad (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Chased leader, blundered 4th, lost 2nd 10th, chased leadedrs, driven along after 14th, weakened 2 out, poor 7th when fell last, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Wilton Milan (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, blundered 5th, effort 13th, went 3rd before 4 out until one pace 3 out, weakening when went slightly right on landing 2 out and unseated rider, at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Tara Road 5-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 11th, chased leaders 13th, weakened after next, poor 4th when pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.