Racecards
16:50 Newbury
Fortis Bank Stakes (Handicap) (Class D)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 5y
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
Vengeance
14- Form 211
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer Mrs A Perrett
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
held up in touch, headway 3f out, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, not quicken final furlong
- Form 61-406
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey I Mongan
tracked leader after 3f, led well over 3f out until over 2f out, ridden and weakening when not much room just inside 2f out
- Form 43-16
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey Pat Eddery
prominent, keen early, not clear run, lost place and switched right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 002-202
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Richard Hughes
soon settled in rear, steady headway over 3f out, led 1f out, ran on well
The Local
10- Form 000-435
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey W Ryan
made most to well over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 50-2030
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
reared up leaving stalls and slowly into stride, effort on inside 3f out, not much room and lost place 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not troubled leaders
Tomina
38- Form 00-61
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Trainer N Graham
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up, headway on outside 3f out, edged left 2f out, every chance over 2f out, edged left again just inside final furlong, not quicken
- Form 051-56
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey E Creighton
held up, headway on outside 5f out, with leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 000-1
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Trainer Sir Mark Prescott
- Jockey G Duffield
in touch, ridden 4f out, not clear run 3f out, edged left and stayed on well inside final furlong, not reached leaders
- Form 000
- Age 3
- Weight 7-12
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey A McCarthy
prominent, pushed along over 4f out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
A case can be made for last time out winners Vengeance and Cake It Easy but it is difficult to oppose No Refuge, who is taken to supplement his recent success on the Fibresand at Wolverhampton. Sir Mark Prescott's colt was backed as though defeat was out of the question on his reappearance in a race that marked his debut in handicap-company and he did not disappoint. The son of Hernando clearly appreciated the step up in trip and stayed on well to beat his nearest rival by five lengths. A return to turf should pose no problems and, under just a 6lb penalty, he should be too good for his rivals. Amanda Perrett's Vengeance won with plenty in hand at Good wood last time and, having been raised just 4lbs since, has to be respected. Cake It Easy won her race in maiden-company on heavy ground at Hamilton and has more to do here on a faster surface and in a handicap so a bigger danger may come from John Dunlop's lightly raced Cara Fantasy but it will be a surprise if anything can beat the selection, who is bound to be popular with backers.