Racecards
16:20 Newmarket
Gist Handicap (Class 3)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 24y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 210302
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey R L Moore
held up in main group, ridden and weakened over 2f out
- Form 66-6112
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer P W D'Arcy
- Jockey J F Egan
held up in touch in main group, effort over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
- Form 144307
- Age 9
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 76
chased clear leader, ridden 3f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 4403
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer A P Jarvis
- Jockey A Munro
close up in main group, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 610-912
- Age 10
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led and soon clear, reminders 7f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on
- Form 325292
- Age 6
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer P J McBride
- Jockey R Mullen
held up in last place, ridden and some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
- Form 166673
- Age 4
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 68
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
- Form 4251-33
- Age 8
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey M Halford
held up in touch in main group, smooth progress to chase leader over 1f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, ran on
In depth
Verdict
This is quite tricky but we will side with Ti Adora ahead of Trance and Doveden Hero. Having won from a five pounds higher mark on Newmarket's other track last season, Doveden Hero clearly can have a case made for him, not least because he comes here in good form and is set to rise by a pound in future ratings. John Forbes is also well-weighted now based on both 2005 and 2006 winning form, although that latter success was achieved on heavy. Given that he is only two pounds above his wining autumn mark, the track winner Mersey Sound is another to consider. Trance has been running well of late and, due to go up a further two pounds based on his most-recent effort, he can go well today. Ti Adora is due to go up by a pound in future assessments and, given that she would not have been suited by the slow pace when beaten on her latest start, she can be rated a little higher and remains progressive, having won two of her last three races. The handicapper is starting to relent with Establishment, although he still has something to prove off his current mark these days, while Follow On, another that is set to rise by two pounds in the future, showed improvement last time, although that came on the all-weather. Our Monogram needs to improve again at 10 years of age to play a winning part today, while Wise Owl seems more effective these days on the all-weather. Once again, then, the vote stays with Ti Adora.
Formwatch
Wise Owl 5-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, effort over 2f out, one pace, 6th of 9, 9l behind Taxman (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Trance (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Behind, driven over 3f out, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner final furlong, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Whispering Death (8-12) at Thirsk 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Ti Adora (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Nobelix (9-4) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Establishment 33-1 (9-2) Took keen hold in mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 13, 7l behind Baddam (9-0) at Ascot 2m 6f stk (2) gf in Jun.
Follow On 20-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden to lead over 2f out, stayed on under pressure, headed well inside final furlong, lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Prins Willem (9-4) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-90 (3) pol.
Our Monogram 11-2 (8-11) Led, soon clear, ridden 4f out, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Monolith (9-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcap (4) gf in Jun.
Dovedon Hero 7-2 (11-5) Slowly into stride, in rear, effort and headway 2f out, stayed on, nearest finish, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Mexican Pete (11-5) at Warwick 1m 5f amt hcp (5) frm.
John Forbes 16-1 (8-13) Held up behind, ridden over 4f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Monolith (9-10) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcap (4) gf in Jun.
Mersey Sound (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) In touch, ridden 3f out, kept on, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Raslan (8-10) at Warwick 2m hcp 0-80 (4) frm.