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Racecards

14:30 Musselburgh

Merchiston Bowling Club Apprentice Handicap (Class 5)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 6f
  • Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 5.71s
  • 6 Ran
1
Silk -
2
Silk -
1(6)
Silk - White, Red epaulets, diabolo on sleeves
  • Form 032403
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 60

held up, ridden over 2f out, soon not much room until switched left inside final furlong, no extra

2(2)
Silk - Grey, Red sash, striped sleeves, Red cap
5/2
  • Form 032121
  • Age 8
  • Weight 9-13
  • Official Rating 59

slowly into stride and held up, ridden over 2f out, headway to chase leaders and every chance over 1f out, no extra close home

3(1)
Silk - White and Light Blue stripes, White sleeves, Light Blue stars
  • Form 131922
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-13
  • Official Rating 59

tracked leaders, ridden and headway over 3f out, every chance 2f out, gradually weakened

4(5)
Silk - Emerald Green, White hoops, White and Emerald Green halved sleeves, Red cap
  • Form 061215
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 53

led after 3f, ridden over 2f out, headed entering final furlong and gradually weakened

5(3)
Silk - Light Blue and Yellow check, Red sleeves and cap
15/2
  • Form 3965
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 65

led until headed after 3f and tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, kept onto lead again entering final furlong, kept on when challenged inside final furlong

6(4)
Silk - Orange, Brown stars, Orange sleeves and cap
33/1
  • Form 096077
  • Age 4
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 42

tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened

In depth

Verdict

Chaka Zulu is in good form at present and is taken to come out on top over Rule For Ever, Rare Coincidence and French Mannequin. Chaka Zulu beat Rare Coincidence by two lengths when they met in an amateur riders' event at Catterick just less than a fortnight ago, and on today's terms should have that one's measure again. Prior to that victory, the eight-year-old had scored over a mile and seven furlongs at Ayr, and so this step back up in trip will not be a worry. Rule For Ever was given a mark of 70 for his handicap bow at Carlisle, but he was unable to lose his maiden tag and now takes on older opposition, a ploy that Mark Johnston often uses to good effect. French Mannequin won a soft race here in July and the dual-purpose performer has more to do now, even with Frances Pickard taking seven-pounds off his back. All in all, Chaka Zulu has leading claims and should be supported in the opener.

Formwatch

Bartra Rock (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Graham Island (9-13) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp (4) gf.

Chaka Zulu 5-2jt-fav (10-1) Held up, headway over 5f out, ridden to lead 2f out, ran on, won at Catterick 1m 4f amt hcp (5) gf beating Rare Coincidence (10-2) by 2l, 8 ran.

Rare Coincidence 7-2 (9-8) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind McEldowney (9-11) at Hamilton 1m 4f app hcp (5) gf.

French Mannequin (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, headway to challenge 4f out, lost place 2f out, soon ridden and beaten, 5th of 7, 8l behind Loop The Loup (9-12) at Redcar 1m 6f clm (6) gf.

Rule For Ever 14-1 (8-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 14l behind Annibale Caro (8-11) at Carlisle 1m 4f 3yo hcp (4) gf.

Kaliyoun (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, held up, not clear run 4f out, ridden and switched left over 2f out, kept on, never troubled leaders, 7th of 10, 10l behind Reminiscent (8-9) at Leicester 1m 4f clm (5) gf in Jul.