Racecards
17:20 Leicester
Perfick Handicap
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 9y
- Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
King of Love
304- Form 1-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey K Darley
pulled hard, led over 6f out, ridden 2 lengths clear 1f out, headed and no extra well inside final furlong
- Form 42-7200
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey D Nolan
pulled hard, held up in touch, effort 2f out, weakened 1f out
Karlu (GER)
215- Form 91-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey I Mongan
held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, driven, stayed on near finish
Traianos (USA)
231- Form 5657-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer P & O Cole
- Jockey J Fortune
held up, ridden and some headway over 2f out, soon one pace
- Form 5407-4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey J F McDonald
in touch, lost place over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, headway and switched left approaching final furlong, ran on
- Form 2000-25
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led, headed over 6f out, remained close up, ridden 3f out, not clear run inside final furlong, stayed on
- Form 0221-70
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer P W D'Arcy
- Jockey N Pollard
slowly into stride, always in rear
- Form 360-6U2
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer G A Butler
- Jockey J P Spencer
slowly into stride, always in rear
- Form 87-6
- Age 3
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 47
pulled hard, tracked leaders, chased leader 5f out, ridden over 2f out, driven and stayed on well to lead well inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
King Of Love is a tentative choice for the finale, with Gennie Bond and Karlu respected as dangers. The last named was well backed when he won his maiden at Chepstow last September and duly obliged in gritty fashion. The extra furlong should suit him here and the market will provide some valuable clues where he is concerned. Gennie Bond has some fair form from last year, albeit at a modest level. She has shaped as if this trip will suit and could be worth another throw of the dice for at least a place. However, King Of Love is expected to improve no end for the step up in trip and, as Mark Johnston has always thought plenty about him, it can be considered as a pointer that the Scotsman is willing for the colt to give weight away to the rest this afternoon.
Formwatch
King of Love 4-1 Chased leaders, stumbled after 1f, led 2f out, soon ridden, held on well under pressure final furlong, won at Carlisle 6f 2yo mdn (D) gd in Jun beating Noodles by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Karlu (GER) 2-1 Slowly into stride, held up, headway 3f out, ridden and switched right, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, won at Chepstow 7f 2yo mdn aut (F4) hvy in Sept beating Spectait by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Traianos (USA) 33-1 Pulled hard in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 6l behind Spaced at Haydock 1m 2yo hcp (B1) gd in Sept.
Blueberry Tart (IRE) 10-1 Keen in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 17, 2l behind Banknote at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp gd.
Gennie Bond 9-2 Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 10, 9l behind Oranmore Castle at Newmarket 6f 3yo mdn gf.
Linda's Colin (IRE) 16-1 Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 17, 27l behind Glen Ida at Kempton 1m 1f 3yo hcp gd in Mar.
Giant's Rock (IRE) 4-1jt-fav Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, not clear run 1f out, ran on close home, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Selma at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (E3) pol in Feb.
Eloquent Knight (USA) 33-1 Held up, some headway and ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 10l behind Coup d'Etat at Kempton 7f mdn stk gd in Mar.