Racecards
16:35 Chester
Moneycorp Handicap (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 195y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 284413
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 65
behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 3-98158
- Age 8
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey Dale Gibson
led 3f, chased leader, ridden when switched left just over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 22-1335
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 60
dwelt, driven to lead after 3f, soon clear, ridden over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, headed close home
- Form 19050-7
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey R Mullen
mid-division, ridden over 5f out, soon weakened
Turner
12- Form 0-00345
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey Mark Flynn
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead close home
- Form 00/7551-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey J P Spencer
mid-division, ridden over 6f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 47-7427
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey J McAuley
held up, ridden and headway when not clear run over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 6106/08
- Age 8
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer B P J Baugh
- Jockey D Kinsella
held up, ridden over 5f out, soon behind
Phoenix Eye
10- Form 327765
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 46
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey S Whitworth
slow into stride, behind, headway over 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
Sarn
16- Form 7474-05
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 35
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey A Kirby
always behind
In depth
Verdict
From a shortlist containing Etching, Spring Breeze, My Legal Eagle and Tell The Trees, we will side with Etching. Etching is now back to a winning mark and, having won over this trip, certainly looks one for the shortlist today following a seasonal pipe-opener, and given the fact that his stable is now showing signs of better form. Spring Breeze is not far above a winning mark and, even though Madiba holds him on recent all-weather form, gets respect from us here on Turf. My Legal Eagle is another that is competitively weighted, but Paradise Flight and Red Sun possibly have a bit to prove now from revised marks. Scurra is quite consistent but rarely wins, while Mythical King is trying a new trip and has not won on the Flat since 2001, although that win came here. From the Martin Pipe stable, Tell The Trees, a seller win on the Flat last summer, has to be respected, but for the selection, we return to Etching.
Formwatch
Paradise Flight (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (8-12) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Sharadi (9-5) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jun.
Red Sun 11-2 (9-8) Led, headed after 2f, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, eased over 1f out, 8th of 9, 22l behind Best Port (9-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) frm in Jun.
Spring Breeze 10-3fav (9-5) Pushed along to chase leaders, led after 2f, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 9l behind Best Port (9-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (5) frm in Jun.
Madiba 14-1 (8-6) Held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 29l behind Mersey Sound (7-12) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Etching (USA) 20-1 (8-4) Held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 15l behind Montecito (8-3) at Haydock 1m 4f fll hcp (4) gf.
Turner 11-1 (10-1) Mid-division, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well final furlong, 5th of 18, 1 1/2l behind Wahchi (10-5) at Pontefract 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Tell The Trees 6-4fav (8-2) Tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching 2f out, clear final furlong, won at Catterick 2m sll (G) gf in Aug beating Bold Blade (8-10) by 4l, 8 ran.
Scurra 3-1jt-fav (9-1) In touch, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, no impression, 7th of 14, 15l behind Next Flight (8-11) at Hamilton 1m 5f app hcp (6) gs in Jun.
Beaver Lodge (IRE) 66-1 (9-5) Always behind, 8th of 12, 20l behind Shush (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jun.
Phoenix Eye 14-1 (9-1) Prominent, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 16, 5l behind Hilltime (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (6) frm in Jun.
Sarn 12-1 (10-0) Slowly into stride and behind, ridden over 3f out, some headway, never dangerous, 5th of 10, 12l behind Top Style (10-12) at Hamilton 1m 5f ldy rds hcp (6) gs in Jun.
My Legal Eagle (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Mid-division, driven and stayed on same pace final 2f, 5th of 11, 4l behind Empangeni (8-0) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Mythical King (IRE) 14-1 (7-11) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway on inside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Masterman Ready (9-1) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (5) gf in Jun.