Racecards
20:20 Musselburgh
John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 7f 30y
- Going: Good to Firm (Good plcs)(Straight - Good, Good to Firm plcs)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 50-5471
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey Neil Brown
behind, ridden over 2f out no impression
- Form 0-67064
- Age 5
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey T Eaves
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 660/808-
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey P Makin
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 9-11411
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey P McDonald
towards rear, ridden and headway to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on gamely inside final furlong to lead post
- Form 44577-0
- Age 8
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer J Barclay
- Jockey T Hamilton
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out and weakened over 1f out
- Form 643857
- Age 8
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey G Bartley
behind, ridden over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, and kept on inside final furlong
- Form 890447
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey D Tudhope
tracked leader, prominent over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon led, kept on, headed post
- Form 291533
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey M Fenton
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 533663
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 48
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon one pace
In depth
Verdict
Not a particularly strong handicap and Sam's Secret can make it four wins from five starts, with Zennerman, Champaign Sands, Wiltshire and Coeur Courageux also in with chances. Sam's Secret loves it here with two wins over a mile in the past two months, plus a 7f Redcar win in between. Her only defeat in that time came over this trip at Beverley, but she could not have been much more impressive in this sort of class last time and she will take some beating. Zennerman took a Wolverhampton 3-y-o handicap last time and seems to handle most ground. A 4lb rise looks fair enough and if the blinkers are as effective then Kevin Ryan's gelding should be thereabouts. Wiltshire tackles his optimum trip again here and at these weights he looks capable of being competitive on ground he relishes, while Champaign Sands is back below his last winning mark but needs to show us more before being backable. Of the remainder Coeur Courageux will doesn't win often but is dropped in class here and should be good enough to go close over the only trip he has won at. Intriguing then, and we take Sam's Secret to maintain her good form.
Formwatch
Zennerman (IRE) 15-8fav (9-12) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, switched right 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 7f hcap (5) pol in Jul beating Attacca (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Coeur Courageux (FR) 11-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 12, 3l behind Turnkey (9-6) at Pontefract 6f hcap (3) gd in Jul.
Sea Storm (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 14, 12l behind Vicious Warrior (9-4) at Ayr 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in May '06.
Sam's Secret 11-2 (9-4) Mid-division, smooth headway to track leaders over 2f out, soon ridden, led over 1f out, drew clear inside final furlong, won at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul beating Bolton Hall (9-1) by 4l, 14 ran.
Ulysees (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) Mid-division stand side, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 17, 7l behind Charles Parnell (9-8) at Ayr 6f hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jul.
Champain Sands (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Behind, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 14, 7l behind Nan Jan (10-0) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jul.
Esoterica (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 3f out, some headway over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 10l behind Sam's Secret (9-4) at Musselburgh 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jul.
Wiltshire (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway well over 2f out, chased leader 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Tipsy Lad (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jul.
Borodinsky 6-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Charles Parnell (10-1) at Catterick 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Jul.