Racecards
15:35 Chester
Carlsberg Stand Cup (listed) (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 66y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 23-2522
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey S Sanders
prominent, ridden 2f out, edged left and stayed on inside final furlong
- Form 251-627
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey F Norton
led early, prominent, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, ran on
- Form 712506
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 98
held up, ridden and edged left 1f out, stayed on, never troubled leader
- Form 6312-11
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey J F Egan
in touch, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, ran on towards finish
- Form 59-5548
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey R Havlin
soon led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra towards finish
- Form 148131
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer D J Coakley
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
in touch, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
Soulacroix should have too much class for his rivals here and he is preferred to Camrose and Foxhaven. The selection has gone from strength to strength since switching stables to Luca Cumani, and there was plenty to like about the way he beat Wunderwood at Goodwood last time. He has more on his plate today but he is clearly going the right way and gets our vote. Camrose has finished second on three of his last four starts but he is running with great credit and he lost no caste in defeat when a close second behind Perfectperformance at Newmarket last time. He will not be far away at the finish if he reproduces that effort today. Foxhaven was a fair seventh in the Ebor at York behind Mudawin last time when he proved that he does see out this trip, so he is another with claims. Frank Sonata is better with more cut in the ground so looks worth opposing and we will stick with Soulacroix to lead them home.
Formwatch
Camrose 4-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Perfectperformance (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f stk (2) gd in Aug.
Foxhaven 7-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 19, 7l behind Mudawin (8-4) at York 1m 6f hcap (2) gs in Aug.
Gavroche (IRE) 25-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up, keen in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 4 1/2l behind New Guinea (8-0) at Chester 1m 5f lst hcp (1) gd in Aug.
Soulacroix 10-3fav (9-7) In touch, outpaced 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Aug beating Wunderwood (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Idealistic (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Mid-division, lost place over 6f out, not clear run over 2f out, one pace after, 8th of 11, 4l behind Portal (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 2f lst fll hcp (1) gf in Aug.
Steppe Dancer (IRE) 4-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) pol in Aug beating Gandor (9-5) by 3l, 4 ran.
Frank Sonata 6-1 (9-10) Behind, effort over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 20l behind Peppertree Lane (8-3) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-105 (2) hvy.
Kaylianni 20-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, never in contention, 12th of 15, 7l behind Strategic Mount (8-6) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.