Racecards
15:20 Chester
Halifax Handicap (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 7f 122y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £21,000 added
- Form 471-5
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led, headed over 5f out, stayed pressing, led again 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, one pace
Annemasse
42- Form 113
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
always prominent, pushed along from 3f out, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
- Form 6-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey J P Spencer
slowly into stride, held up, headway on outer over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, closing towards finish
- Form 36531-7
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
held up towards rear, not clear run over 1f out when still going well enough, ridden briefly when not clear run again inside final furlong, never troubled leaders
- Form 645211
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey C Catlin
with leader, led over 5f out, headed 2f out, soon ridden, one pace inside final furlong
- Form 324826
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 79
chased leaders, ridden, every chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish
Dora Explora
21- Form 1568-08
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 78
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, drifted slightly right well inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge
- Form 85049-4
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 75
dwelt, mid-division, ridden over 1f out, never reached leaders
Salient
17- Form 1134-03
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer J Akehurst
- Jockey Dean McKeown
Withdrawn
In depth
Verdict
Thabaat gets the confident vote here over Gulf Express and Proper. The selection looked a class apart from his rivals when winning on his debut at Folkestone and as he was very green that day there should be plenty more to come. He has a good draw today and the stable do well at this venue so he has plenty in his favour. Gulf Express has shown plenty of ability on both of his runs so far but on both occasions he has been slowly away and that could make life difficult for him on this track. Proper scored in good style last time out but the combination of a penalty and a poor draw means he is one to take on today. Annemasse makes some appeal from an each-way point of view in this contest but he will need to improve if he is to get his head in front and for the winner we will return to Thabaat.
Formwatch
Magic Mountain (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 14l behind Yeaman's Hall (8-10) at Sandown 1m 3yo stk (3) gd in Apr.
Annemasse 6-4 (9-10) Led at moderate gallop, joined and quickened pace over 3f out, ridden 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Captain Jacksparra (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Gulf Express (USA) 13-8fav (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and edge left to lead well inside final furlong, kept on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol in Apr beating Vanquisher (8-11) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Thabaat 4-11fav (8-11) Made all, ridden and hung right over 1f out, ran on and driven clear final furlong, won at Folkestone 7f mdn stk (5) gd in Apr beating Thunderbolt Jaxon (8-11) by 5l, 9 ran.
Cool Box (USA) 33-1 (8-7) Behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 7th of 14, 6l behind Phoenix Tower (8-11) at Newbury 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Proper (IRE) 15-8fav (9-8) Led early, tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final furlong, stayed on well, won at Catterick 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf beating Nota Liberata (8-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Copper King 11-2 (9-4) Held up and keen, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, one paced, 6th of 8, 5l behind Lazy Darren (9-2) at Chepstow 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Dora Explora 66-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened 2f out, 8th of 12, 18l behind Metaphoric (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Chjimes (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Hampered over 4f out, held up, ridden halfway, soon hung left, driven and kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 9l behind Off The Record (8-6) at Southwell 6f 3yo hcp (4) fbs in Apr.
Salient 66-1 (8-13) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, effort and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Eau Good (8-11) at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf in Apr.