Racecards
16:35 Epsom Downs
Michael Church Handicap (Class 5)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 114y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 6106-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
tracked leader over 5f
- Form 5-92
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Ted Durcan
slowly into stride, soon pushed along in rear, ridden, headway over 2f out, led and edged left from over 1f out, ridden out
- Form 43305-5
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Jim Crowley
raced wide, in touch, not much room over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 100-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led, ridden, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 68-2
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd near finish
- Form 865-2
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
raced wide in touch, chased leader 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, lost 2nd near finish
Miss Wedge
29- Form 34520-7
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
- Form 575276-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer J J Bridger
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
pulled hard, close up, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
- Form 372840
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 67
held up, headway under pressure from over 2f out, rider dropped whip approaching final furlong, bumped inside final furlong
Benbrook
172- Form 9657-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey P Robinson
always behind
Laheen (IRE)
14- Form 559
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey N Mackay
always behind
- Form 0857-20
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer I A Wood
- Jockey James Doyle
held up, headway under strong pressure from over 2f out, hung right final furlong, bumped rival
In depth
Verdict
Follow The Colours can come out on top over Airbuss, with Burnbank, Lyrical Sound and Catspraddle also set to make their presence felt. The finale looks wide open, and only a tentative vote goes to Follow The Colours who stayed on nicely at the finish behind Acrobatic at Bath on his seasonal reappearance a fortnight ago. His performance was made even better by the fact that he did not get the best of runs, and he is taken to lose his maiden tag at just the fourth attempt. Burnbank was beaten close home on Lingfield's Polytrack last time and should appreciate the extra distance, but his form does not look as good as that of the selection. Lyrical Sound has to carry topweight on the back of some fair efforts last term and has an absence to overcome, but the stable is in form, while Catspraddle failed to build on his Windsor debut success last season and should be watched for the time being. He may make the pace and hang on for a place at a decent price though, with Follow The Colours holding better claims.
Formwatch
Lyrical Sound (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Raced far side, broke well, soon outpaced and behind, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 30, 2l behind Murfreesboro (8-13) at Newmarket 6f 2yo aut (2) gd in Sept.
Airbuss (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway 3f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Ivy Creek (9-3) at Warwick 1m 3yo mdn (5) gs.
Elusive Warrior (USA) 25-1 (9-3) Led until over 5f out, remained prominent, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Mary Delaney (8-12) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol.
Catspraddle (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Led to over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, 14l behind Trafalgar Bay (9-7) at Newbury 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Burnbank (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden to challenge well over 1f out, stayed on well, 2nd of 11, nk behind Mary Delaney (8-12) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol.
Follow The Colours (IRE) 11-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, steady headway 3f out, ridden and edged left final furlong, took 2nd close home, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Acrobatic (8-11) at Bath 1m mdn stk (5) gs.
Miss Wedge 10-1 (9-4) Keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened quickly, 7th of 12, 16l behind Questive (9-1) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Fratt'n Park (IRE) 100-1 (8-8) Soon outpaced, headway and hung right 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 11, 9l behind Midris (8-8) at Newmarket 6f 2yo lst fll (1) sft in Oct.
Lenoir (GER) 16-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 17, 23l behind Top Shot (8-12) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp (5) sft.
Mamichor 16-1 (9-2) Held up, never dangerous, last of 14, 12l behind Roman Quest (8-11) at Folkestone 6f 3yo hcp (5) gs.
Benbrook 20-1 (8-1) In touch far side, ridden and effort 2f out, soon one pace, 7th of 21, 11l behind Ordnance Row (9-6) at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Nov.
Laheen (IRE) 66-1 (8-12) Chased leader over 5f out, soon faded, 9th of 11, 6l behind Mary Delaney (8-12) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol.
Emotive 6-1 (8-11) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 10th of 14, 6l behind Marachi Band (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (6) pol.