Racecards
15:50 Leicester
Leicester City Football Club Handicap (Class 2)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 7f 9y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 421500
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer R F Johnson Houghton
- Jockey S Carson
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 117-233
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer W R Swinburn
- Jockey E Ahern
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 11317-7
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Sir Mark Prescott
- Jockey J Quinn
with leaders, keen, ridden and weakened over 2f out
- Form 4123-8
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer M A Jarvis
- Jockey P Robinson
steadied start, held up well in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden, kept on and hung right final furlong
- Form 231-4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer M P Tregoning
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
held up, headway halfway, ridden over 1f out, one pace
Salamanca
10- Form 690022
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer S Kirk
- Jockey J P Spencer
mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, not troubled leaders
Wazir (USA)
36- Form 21-29
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey J Fortune
held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 89-5046
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P Winkworth
- Jockey P Doe
pulled hard, led 4f, weakened and eased over 1f out
- Form 633311
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey C Catlin
close up, led halfway, hung left over 1f out, edged right and ridden out final furlong
- Form 53-5146
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 88
held up, pushed along halfway, headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, hung right and ran on inside final furlong
- Form 111320
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey T Block
pulled hard, with leaders, chased winner over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 032701
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 79
towards rear, some headway over 2f out, ridden and soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Viking Spirit can gain compensation for consistency although Salamanca and Wazir hold obvious chances. Walter Swinburn's representative continues to build up a strong catalogue of placed efforts with a third to Tax Free at Newmarket the latest among three such near misses. A step up to seven furlongs should not represent a problem and we will hope that consistency gets its due reward. Salamanca did not get the run of the race in the De Boer Handicap at Goodwood but was still able to claim second on the day. He has gone up 4lb for that effort and should not be troubled by today's quicker surface. Wazir hung under pressure when asked for his effort at Sandown on his latest start. That said, he was well backed on that day, so it will be interesting to see if the faces are on again. Qadar is relatively unexposed and is watched in the market. Sea Hunter was scheduled to run at Goodwood but was withdrawn on account of the soft conditions. He has to find a bit but is certainly on the upgrade. Haunting Memories should attempt to lead them along. Viking Spirit gets our selection in a race that should throw up plenty of future winners.
Formwatch
Intoxicating 20-1 (9-0) Raced far side, chased leaders over 4f, 11th of 20, 6l behind Tax Free (8-0) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jul.
Viking Spirit 9-1 (8-11) Raced stand side, held up, headway over 1f out, ran on stronly inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 20, 1 1/2l behind Tax Free (8-0) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jul.
Hypnotic 14-1 (9-12) Tracked leader, driven along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 15l behind Sound Breeze (9-1) at Pontefract 1m hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Haunting Memories (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Led, headed 3f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 19l behind Wise Dennis (9-3) at York 7f lst hcp (1) sft in May.
Qadar (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Took keen hold, behind leaders, not clear run well over 1f out, hung left, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 8l behind Goodricke (9-1) at Newbury 6f 3yo stk (4) gf in Jun.
Salamanca 13-2 (8-11) Prominent on inside, chased winner inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Tagula Sunrise (8-2) at Goodwood 7f 3yo hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Wazir (USA) 9-2 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 6l behind Walkonthewildside (9-4) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Safari Sunset (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, challenged from 3f out, every chance 2f out, not quicken final furlong, 6th of 15, 5l behind Tagula Sunrise (8-2) at Goodwood 7f 3yo hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Sea Hunter 5-1 (9-5) With leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, held on gamely, won at Chester 7f 3yo hcp (3) gd in Jun beating Dabbers Ridge (8-11) by a shd, 11 ran.
Sky Crusader 4-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden 3f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 5l behind Walkonthewildside (9-4) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Guildenstern (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Raced far side, chased leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 16th of 20, 9l behind Tax Free (8-0) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jul.
Breaking Shadow (IRE) 20-1 (8-5) Held up towards rear, headway on inner 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at York 7f 3yo hcp (3) gf in Jul beating Regal Dream (8-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Paper Talk (USA) 7-1 (8-11) Made all, challenged approaching final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Pearl King (8-2) by 3/4l, 9 ran.