Racecards
15:05 Chester
Warwick International Handicap (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 66y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Form 623408
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 83
held up in touch, ridden and not much room final furlong, one pace
- Form 97-5018
- Age 4
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Jedd O'Keeffe
- Jockey P Mulrennan
chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed close home
- Form 457-136
- Age 9
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J D Bethell
- Jockey J Mitchell
slowly into stride, in rear, effort on outer over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
- Form 25075-7
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 76
held up mid-division, effort and headway on inner over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 415138-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
held up towards rear, ridden and headway on inner over 1f out, soon hampered when not clear run approaching final furlong, one pace
- Form 4-6341
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey W C Marwing
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, outpaced, kept on to lead close home
- Form 174-843
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer W S Kittow
- Jockey N Callan
pushed along to lead, headed over 2f out, ridden and edged left approaching final furlong, no impression
- Form 501812
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey Liam Jones
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish
- Form 33-2244
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey D Allan
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
In depth
Verdict
In race three, Stretton is selected ahead of Rhaam and Active Asset. Stretton loves it here and has been dropped - generously, we feel - to a mark just one pound above his course and distance win of three runs ago. His latest two efforts have come over 14 furlongs and then on heavy going. Conditions will suit a lot better today and he is fully entitled to go well. Rhaam hails from the Barry Hills yard that does so well with its raiders here. He won his maiden at Pontefract last time, his form looks solid and he can go well. As can Active Asset, who has proven that he can go well from today's mark, although a wide draw is a bit of a concern. Finally, Mr Aitch won this race last year from a three-pound lower mark but lacks a recent run, Red Lancer likes it here and you cannot rule him out of bagging some money, Jack Of Trumps is well-handicapped with the selection based on May 2006 course and distance form but has been disappointing since, and Raffish is running well but maybe softer going is more preferable for him. Once again, then, for the selection, we will stick with Stretton.
Formwatch
Luna Landing 25-1 (8-10) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened and eased inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 8l behind Misty Dancer (8-10) at Ayr 1m 5f hcap (3) gd in Jun.
Stretton (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 11, 10l behind Spanish Hidalgo (9-3) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Jul.
Jack of Trumps (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders, 7th of 10, 11l behind Night Cru (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Jun.
Rhaam 2-1fav (8-13) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, led post, won at Pontefract 1m 4f mdn stk (5) gd in Jul beating Yossi (8-13) by a shd, 11 ran.
Dove Cottage (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Led, edged left from rails from over 2f out, soon headed, stayed on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Polish Red (8-12) at Windsor 1m 4f hcap (4) gs in Jul.
Acuzio 7-1 (8-9) Held up in chasing group, headway over 6f out, chased winner until 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind Nero West (8-13) at Chester 2m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Jul.
Red Lancer 14-1 (8-12) Mid-division, progress on outer early straight, 7th 1 1/2f out, kept on, 6th of 17, 5l behind Arc Bleu (8-5) at Curragh 1m 4f prm hcp sft in Jul.
Raffish 11-4fav (8-10) Held up in touch and keen, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, led just inside final furlong, kept on well, won at York 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Jul beating Red Wine (8-10) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.