Racecards
16:35 Folkestone
Bet Grand National - Betdaq Handicap (Class 5)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Form 41/
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey R L Moore
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on
- Form 8160/2-2
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey S De Sousa
held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, short lived effort 2f out
- Form 019414-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer A B Haynes
- Jockey D Kinsella
held up in touch, effort over 1f out, soon one pace
- Form 194-484
- Age 5
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey M Dwyer
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 4467-79
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer G G Margarson
- Jockey J Quinn
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
- Form 882201-
- Age 7
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey C Catlin
held up, ridden over 2f out, no impression
In depth
Verdict
Poppets Sweetlove gets the nod over Proud Killer and Pure Imagination, while Benfleet Boy is one to keep tracking in the betting. The last named has been out of action for 573 days and has obviously endured problems with his training. The four-year-old has not been see out since winning a Kempton maiden in 2006, but the manner of his success implied he had a bright future. Now with a new yard, he has a bit to prove on his return but is an interesting contender, all the same. Pure Imagination has also had his problems but came back with a good effort at Musselburgh nine days ago. This is a similar level and, as David Nicholls has sent him a long way from his base in Thirsk, any market confidence would also be noteworthy. Proud Killer has won here before and, as he is well treated just now, he is no forlorn hope. He does need to prove seven furlongs suits him ideally, though. Therefore, we prefer the claims held by Poppets Sweetlove, who has no questions to answer regarding her stamina and, with ground conditions sure to suit, the Foxhound filly is fancied to show the boys the quickest way home.
Formwatch
Benfleet Boy 11-4jt-fav (9-3) Dwelt, soon tracking leaders, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn auc (5) pol in Sept '06 beating Malyana (8-12) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Pure Imagination (IRE) 9-2 (8-5) Held up, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Cha Cha Cha (8-8) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Mar.
Poppets Sweetlove 10-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on, 4th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Magroom (8-5) at Bath 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Oct.
Proud Killer 14-1 (8-13) Dwelt and towards rear, soon chased along, effort over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Savile's Delight (8-6) at Southwell 5f hcap (5) fbs in Feb.
Mick Is Back 11-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, gradually weakened, 9th of 12, 9l behind Not Now Lewis (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Mugeba 9-2 (8-7) Held up, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, held on well, won at Ayr 7f fll hcp (5) hvy in Nov beating Eternal Legacy (8-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Sir Douglas 13-2 (9-7) With leader until hung badly right 3f out, ran very wide, rider unable to persevere, no chance final 2f, last of 8, 19l behind Green Pirate (8-9) at W'hampton 6f clm (6) pol in Mar.