Racecards
20:05 Newmarket
Gpt Halverton Handicap (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 009321
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey L Morris
raced stands side then chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, effort entering final furlong, unable to quicken near finish
- Form 52-4630
- Age 8
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Kerrin McEvoy
raced far side with one other, led 5f but never on terms with stands side
- Form 2-03054
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey N Callan
raced stands side, keen, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
- Form 431133
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer S Woodman
- Jockey J P Spencer
raced stands side, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
- Form 023428
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey Richard Hughes
raced stands side, tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed towards finish
- Form 211-978
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer H Candy
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
slowly into stride, raced stands side, held up, headway and not clear run over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
- Form 063929
- Age 10
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 74
raced stands side, overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 122060
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey S Sanders
raced far side, chased leader until led that pair 2f out, but no chance with stands side
- Form 775490
- Age 8
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey I Mongan
slowly into stride, raced stands side, held up in rear, never trouble leaders
- Form 310655
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 85
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Material Witness, Direct Debit and Ivory Lace are likely to battle this one out between them and the latter gets the vote. Steve Woodman's mare races over her optimum trip and ground conditions are also in her favour. Jamie Spencer is booked, so that will divide opinion, and she is also 5lb higher than her last winning mark. However, she remains in good form despite the rises and with doubts about the others she looks solid enough. Spencer will have a good idea as to the merit of his mount in relation to Direct Debit, whom he has ridden a few times before. Michael Bell's gelding will want them to go off pretty quick here and make this a stamina test, but that is not certain and he remains best at a mile. Material Witness is a specialist at this trip and has won over c&d, but he is a light of former days and as one on the downgrade he cannot be backed with confidence. Irony would have claims on his best form, being 1lb below his highest win and having trip and ground in his favour, so he has to be taken seriously, but preference is for Ivory Lace, who can take this handicap.
Formwatch
Direct Debit (IRE) 11-10fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, challenged over 2f, soon led, always holding on, won at Ascot 1m clm (4) gf in Jul beating Wovoka (9-9) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Irony (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Led for 4f, weakened entering straight, last of 10, 13l behind Samarinda (9-3) at Lingfield 1m stk 0-90 (3) pol in Jul.
Woodcote Place 25-1 (9-8) Dwelt, soon recovered into mid-division, hampered over 2f out, soon not clear run until headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 20, 2l behind Fremen (9-8) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Jul.
Ivory Lace 8-1 (9-9) Held up, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Diamond Diva (9-10) at Folkestone 7f fll hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Pulled hard early, raced awkwardly, soon towards rear, no chance when hampered well inside final furlong, 8th of 10, 6l behind Emerald Wilderness (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f hcap (4) gs in Jul.
Red Romeo 6-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, raced stand side, weakened 2f out, 9th of 10, 22l behind Riquewihr (8-10) at York 7f hcap (4) sft in Jul.
Trimlestown (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon mid-divison, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 15, 9l behind Gloved Hand (9-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Jun.
Material Witness (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Led, ridden, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 17l behind Starlight Gazer (9-3) at Leicester 7f hcap (4) sft in Jul.
His Master's Voice (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Chased leaders until weakened 2f out, 20th of 21, 32l behind Middlemarch (9-5) at Ascot 7f ldy rds hcp (3) gs in Jul.
Moayed 25-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride, never travelling and always in rear, last of 11, 11l behind Presumptive (8-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in May.
Glenbuck (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Led, ridden over 2f out headed entering final furlong, no extra final 50yds, 5th of 21, 3l behind Middlemarch (9-5) at Ascot 7f ldy rds hcp (3) gs in Jul.