Racecards
20:15 Chepstow
Strongbow Handicap
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 6f 16y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 202114
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey P Fitzsimons
chased leaders until ridden and weakened well over 1f out
- Form 0926-94
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey G Baker
mid-division, switched right over 1f out, never dangerous
- Form 303500
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 54
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 031395
- Age 5
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer R Brotherton
- Jockey C Catlin
outpaced, never in contention
- Form 0-09734
- Age 10
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 50
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 000868
- Age 8
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 48
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey F P Ferris
chased leader, led well over 3f out, kept on well
- Form 00-0804
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 48
led until headed well over 3f out, chased winner, weakened well over 1f out
Silver Reign
34- Form 5690-90
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 45
prominent, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
Laurel Dawn
15- Form 293680
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey Paul Eddery
held up in rear, effort on outside over 1f out, soon beaten
- Form 762550
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 43
chased leaders, ridden along 3f out, kept on same pace from 1f out
- Form 066227
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 40
chased leaders, ridden approaching 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
- Form 8880-00
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 40
- Trainer M Appleby
- Jockey Saleem Golam
always towards rear
- Form 443358
- Age 7
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 39
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey D Heslop
prominent on the wide outside, went 2nd 2f out, always held
- Form 640-809
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 45
always in rear
Holly Games
10- Form 30009/0
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 35
- Trainer M R Bosley
- Jockey Lisa Jones
in touch to halfway
- Form 268502
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 55
Nonrunner
- Form 075-330
- Age 8
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer Peter Grayson
- Jockey R Fitzpatrick
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Blue Knight can go one better than when beaten in a photo at Yarmouth, with topweight Enjoy The Buzz, Yorkies Boy and Coranglais the other main contenders. Despite the size of the field, many can be ruled out, and the winner will hopefully emerge from our short-list, with preference for Blue Knight. Paul Howling's six-year-old overcame a slow start to be denied by just a head at Yarmouth, picking up much better than when sent off as favourite at Brighton the time before. It is nearly three years now since his sole Turf victory, but in his current mood, it will not be long before he returns to the winner's enclosure in this grade of race. Enjoy The Buzz has been in good form and ran well in defeat at Brighton, but the handicapper is starting to have his measure again, and a six-pound penalty will not help matters. Yorkies Boy would have eaten these for breakfast in his prime, having landed the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket seven years ago, but is past his best. However, he is still running well enough to be in the shake-up in these sort of events, and along with Coranglais, can make sure Blue Knight does not have things easy. We still fancy the latter to come out on top though.
Formwatch
Enjoy The Buzz 2-1fav (9-11) In touch on outside, kept on under pressure final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Redwood Star (9-11) at Brighton 5f hcp (6) frm.
Coranglais 16-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 5l behind Headland (9-9) at W'hampton 6f hcp (F4) pol in Jan.
Ligne d'Eau 20-1 (8-3) Raced alone on far side rails, behind final 2f, 12th of 15, 10l behind Danifah (8-12) at Chepstow 6f hcp (5) gs in May.
Blakeshall Quest 33-1 (8-8) Close up, ridden in every chance 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 8l behind Firenze (9-11) at Leicester 6f fll hcp (5) gf.
Yorkies Boy 10-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway on rail, switched left over 1f out, ran on under pressure final furlong, 4th of 18, 3/4l behind Lucid Dreams (10-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp (6) gf.
Moritat (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong without being a danger, 4th of 9, 3l behind Crystal Mystic (8-3) at Chepstow 6f mdn hcp (5) gf.
Spy Gun (USA) 7-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 14, 14l behind Camille Pissarro (9-2) at Southwell 7f stk (7) fbs in May.
Blue Knight (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Switched left start, held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 19, hd behind Only If I Laugh (9-2) at Yarmouth 6f hcp (6) gf.