Racecards
20:20 Chester
Veuve Clicquot Handicap (Class 3)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 66y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £12,500 added
- Winner: £8,086
- 2nd: £2,406
- 3rd: £1,202
- 4th: £601
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey F Norton
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
Shrewd
22- Form 31161-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey L Morris
close 3rd, pushed along 4f out, ridden, switched left and picked up well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
- Form 53121
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken, stayed on same pace
In depth
Verdict
Edwyn Ralph makes a belated debut on Turf having won on the Polytrack before landing a handicap on the Fibresand at Southwell. But Shrewd has the superior form given last year's three victories over shorter trips and he should have come on for a recent pipe-opener over today's distance at Ascot. PITCHOUN is hard to pin down as a mark of 90 looks high enough for a maiden win at Bath. But he won doing handstands on that occasion and Mark Johnston's charge may take some catching if allowed an easy lead.
Formwatch
Pitchoun (IRE) 6-4 (8-13) Made all, quickened clear over 1f out, ran on strongly, easily, won at Bath 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fm in Jun beating Society Pearl (8-8) by 6l, 6 ran.
Shrewd 33-1 (9-3) Led until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 17th of 18, 11l behind Elidor (9-0) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Edwyn Ralph 6-4 (9-0) Tracked leader, pushed along over 1f out, led 1f out, kept on well, won at Southwell 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) fbs in Mar beating Royal Skies (9-7) by 3l, 3 ran.