Racecards
20:00 Chester
Ethel Austin Handicap (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 75y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
Defi (IRE)
29- Form 109-206
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 85
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 5-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
keen, in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 312
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 81
soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
- Form 3-2214
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey F Norton
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra towards finish
- Form 823
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey Dale Gibson
held up, not much room and hampered over 7f out, never a factor
- Form 05-0741
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey T Hamilton
led early, held up, headway 3f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on
- Form 40-2313
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey S W Kelly
chased leader, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
In depth
Verdict
Vale de Lobo, Evolution Ex and Diamond Circle have strong claims for this ten furlong handicap and Vale de Lobo is the selection. Owned by Real Madrid star Michael Owen, Evolution Ex lost his maiden tag at Windsor after chasing home the useful Anaamil at Haydock. He ran well in a competitive handicap at Epsom on Derby Day to be beaten only three lengths into fourth and will go well here. Barry Hills is the outstanding trainer on the Roodeye and he saddles Diamond Circle here. After one run as a two-year-old, finishing in mid-division at Yarmouth, he made a winning seasonal re-appearance when scoring at Ripon. That was a good effort but he will need to improve further to take this. Vale de Lobo is the one they have to beat. She was fifth at Newcastle and on the face of it that was a moderate effort but the race worked out really well with several winners coming out of the race. She was unlucky in an apprentice race at Ripon, finishing second having been denied a clear run, but made no mistake at Windsor last time. She is on the upgrade and Vale de Lobo is a confident selection.
Formwatch
Defi (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 5l behind Fly To Dubai (8-3) at Ripon 1m 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jun.
Diamond Circle 11-4fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, driven to lead well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo mdn fll (5) gf in Jun beating Bazelle (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Best Prospect (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Sacranun (9-2) at Pontefract 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Evolution Ex (USA) 9-2 (7-12) Tracked leader, challenged going well 3f out, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken, 4th of 11, 3l behind Enforcer (8-5) at Epsom 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jun.
Foursquare Flyer (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Song of Songs (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f mdn stk (4) gf in Jun.
Torrens (IRE) 4-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, smooth headway 3f out, led well over 1f out, driven clear final furlong, won at Ripon 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gd beating Jaafi (8-11) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Quasimodo (GB) 5-2fav (9-8) Led and disputed, ridden straight, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Decarl (8-11) at Naas 7f hcp 45-70 sft in Apr.
Vale de Lobo 10-3 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final 2f, pushed out final furlong, comfortably, won at Windsor 1m 2f fll hcp (5) gd in Jun beating Kryssa (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.