Racecards
15:30 Musselburgh
Willie Park Trophy Handicap (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Form 313120
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
held up, ridden over 3f out, stayed on well from over 1f out, nearest at finish
- Form 201411
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey P McDonald
chased winner, ridden over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 424217
- Age 10
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer E W Tuer
- Jockey P Mulrennan
held up and keen, chased leaders over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Gordonsville
27- Form 222422
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey D Tudhope
held up, headway over 3f out, chased winner final furlong, no impression
Lets Roll
14- Form 090820
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer C W Thornton
- Jockey T Eaves
held up, ridden over 4f out, no impression from over 2f out
- Form 2-25170
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 84
made all, clear from over 1f out
- Form 963-023
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer P Monteith
- Jockey P Hanagan
tracked leaders and keen, weakened over 3f out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The hat-trick seeking MERCHANT OF DUBAI can again get the better of Gordonsville, but Sphinx should also come into calculations. Last month the selection beat Jim Goldie's gelding here. There's little to suggest a reversal of form is likely, bar some trouble in running. It's a year since Gordonsville won, but although always in the shake-up, he all too often ends up finding one too good. Unlike some, he won't mind the cut in the ground, and has proved himself versatile in all conditions. Sphinx should be fine on the ground too, usually the softer the better, but he hasn't won over this trip, only over shorter and longer. He fairly bolted up on his penultimate run only to be disappointing last time out, when the ground was probably too quick. It's a good contest this, the longest on the card, and we fancy the chances of Merchant of Dubai. (Chris Cooper)
Formwatch
Bollin Felix 20-1 (8-9) Always mid-division, 19th of 32, 28l behind Caracciola (9-6) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gd in Oct.
Merchant Of Dubai 7-4fav (8-11) Made all, quickened over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct beating Gordonsville (9-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Sphinx (FR) 16-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, beaten over 3f out, 7th of 10, 31l behind Veracity (9-3) at Pontefract 2m 2f stk (3) gd in Oct.
Gordonsville 13-2 (9-0) Held up and keen early, ridden 3f out, kept on final furlong, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Merchant of Dubai (8-11) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Oct.
Lets Roll 14-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 20, 17l behind Wells Lyrical (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Nemo Spirit (IRE) 50-1 (9-6) Towards rear, steady headway 5f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 20, 14l behind Wells Lyrical (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Los Nadis (GER) 6-4fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, soon eased, 3rd of 7, 30l behind Sphinx (9-7) at Ayr 2m 1f hcap (4) hvy in Sept.
Stravonian 50-1 (8-13) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden and no impression, 7th of 11, 14l behind Jane of Arc (8-8) at Musselburgh 1m 4f sll (6) gd in Sept.