Racecards
15:45 Fontwell Park
Morestead Retirement Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Good (Watered)
- Surface: Turf
- £4,200 added
- Winner: £2,729
- 2nd: £801
- 3rd: £401
- 4th: £200
- Form 224/4-P5
- Age 13
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
behind, reminder after 7th, chased clear leaders before 3 out, ridden and stayed on to dispute 3rd flat, no impression
- Form 442P33
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey A Thornton
chased leaders, went 2nd and challenged 4 out, led narrowly next, ridden after last, kept on
- Form P5P4-P1
- Age 10
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer T R Gretton
- Jockey James Davies
chased leaders, reminders after 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 3 out
Houseparty
12- Form PP783F
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey Tabitha Worsley
behind, headway 7th, chased leading pair 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on when, hard pressed for 3rd flat, no impression with winner
- Form P46224
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer D Frankland
- Jockey James Best
chased leaders, reminders after 7th, soon lost place and behind, no danger after
- Form 446634
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Brendan Powell
led to 8th, lost place 4 out, no impression from next
In depth
Verdict
This is a big drop in class for POPAFLORA and Dan Skelton's grey, who beat The Informant by 11 lengths over course and distance last May, is fancied to recapture the winning thread. That's Ben didn't beat much at Plumpton earlier this month but his penalty at least means he can race off the correct mark, unlike Houseparty, Rebel High and Morestead. Herecomesthetruth looks a light of former days.
Formwatch
Popaflora 8-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, led 9th, ridden and headed 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, well behind Minella Forfitness (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Herecomesthetruth (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, mistake 1st, pushed along approaching 12th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Calgary Bay (11-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hts chs (5) gs in Mar.
The Informant 9-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd after 7th, led 5 out, headed 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Star Presenter (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
Thats Ben (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, left in lead 10th, headed briefly 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, driven between last 2, pressed last, stayed on gamely run-in, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd beating June French (10-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Houseparty 8-1 (10-0) Well off the pace in rear, not fluent 10th, tailed off when fell 14th, in a race won by Tribal Dance (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd, 6 ran.
Rebel High (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, challenged 8th, led before 4 out, soon headed, no extra when not fluent last, 4th of 8, 22l behind Toowoomba (11-9) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Jan.
Morestead (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Led, headed 5 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 7, 21l behind Star Presenter (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.