Racecards
14:55 Epsom Downs
Bet@bluesq.com Great Metropolitan Stakes (Handicap) (Class C) (Class C)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 10y
- Going: Soft
- Form 120-50
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer D R Loder
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
in touch, pushed along 5f out, weakened quickly 3f out
- Form 01440-3
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Trainer Mrs A Perrett
- Jockey L Dettori
mid-division, steady headway 4f out, hung left and close up when bumped over 2f out, continued to hang left but kept on final furlong
Vengeance
11- Form 12105-0
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Trainer Mrs A Perrett
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
mid-division, effort to press leaders and every chance over 2f out, soon one pace under pressure
Sergeant Cecil
228- Form 121020-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey Richard Hughes
prominent to halfway, soon behind, tailed off
Ofaraby
23- Form 2164-31
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Trainer M A Jarvis
- Jockey P Robinson
in touch, effort to challenge going well over 2f out, ridden and no extra over 1f out
- Form 133200-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
in touch until weakened over 4f out
Cold Turkey
11- Form 2-11324
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey S Whitworth
held up in rear, good headway from 4f out, not much room on rails and switched sharply left approaching 2f out, led well over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong
Jeepstar
179- Form 121253-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey J Mackay
led to 5f out, weakened rapidly
- Form 14/000-0
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
held up towards rear, some headway over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra
Ezz Elkheil
33- Form 50-2430
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey D Holland
tracked leader, led 5f out to over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 46434-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Trainer J Akehurst
- Jockey T Quinn
slowly into stride and always rear
- Form 0050-00
- Age 5
- Weight 8-4
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey S Hitchcott
held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, challenged and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
General
21- Form 20/1205
- Age 7
- Weight 8-3
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey T P Queally
in touch, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, not pace of winner final furlong but kept on well for 2nd
- Form 022513-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-2
- Trainer S C Williams
- Jockey M Dwyer
behind, switched left and stayed on from over 1f out, never dangerous
In depth
Verdict
Cold Turkey can appreciate the drop back in trip to land the Great Met, with Ofaraby, Pagan Dance and Jeepstar just three possible dangers. This is always a tough handicap to crack, but with question marks over the fitness of a few, notably Individual Talents and Sergeant Cecil, we feel that Cold Turkey, with no doubts on that score, can pay to follow. A prolific winner on the all-weather, Gary Moore's four-year-old ran very well on turf in the Queen's Prize at Kempton on what was his first try at two miles, finishing fourth, but will be more at home back over today's trip. He should run a big race here and gets the vote over Ofaraby who was given a confident ride by Philip Robinson when winning at Newcastle recently. He has his first try at the trip though and cannot be backed with the utmost confidence on that score. Pagan Dance has had only one outing since running over hurdles in December, and that was on the Polytrack at Lingfield in March. He does not look especially well handicapped at present but does at least have the assistance of Frankie Dettori. Jeepstar was a beaten favourite on his final outing last season but could be a progressive sort this term and can pay to follow. On this occasion though, with fitness assured, Cold Turkey gets the nod.