Racecards
14:20 Newmarket
Triconnex Handicap (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 6f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £18,675
- 2nd: £5,592
- 3rd: £2,796
- 4th: £1,398
- Form 711-00R
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 100
pulled hard tracking leaders, switched to centre when race split over 10f out, lost place over 4f out, tailed off
Tropical Beat
233- Form 632/245-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 97
steadied start, held up in touch, switched to centre when race split over 10f out, headway over 3f out, soon ridden to challenge, hung right inside final furlong, kept on
- Form 311588
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
prominent, switched to centre when race split over 10f out, led that group and well on terms, hard ridden and every chance over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
- Form 18221-9
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer M Botti
- Jockey M M Monaghan
held up in touch, switched to centre when race split over 10f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form 100732-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey S De Sousa
took keen hold in touch, switched to centre when race split over 10f out, driven to challenge over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, eased
- Form 3D030-8
- Age 6
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey Martin Lane
pulled hard in touch, remained on far side when race split over 10f out, led over 4f out, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong
- Form 6355-15
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
held up in touch, remained on far side when race split over 10f out, switched left and headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly
Dark Ranger
20- Form 80/721-2
- Age 8
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 83
tracked leader, remained on far side when race split over 10f out, effort over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
- Form 45100-9
- Age 6
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 82
led, remained on far side when race split over 10f out and overall leader, headed over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Blue Wave was well beaten back on Turf at Ripon but still finished ahead of the tailed off De Rigeur, who is also better on the all-weather. Dark Ranger was second on the July course here last June but is 6lb higher, though ran well on his return to action at Kempton when Highland Castle finished last. Van Percy was fifth over 1m4f here at the start of the month but his stamina is suspect over this longer trip. It's almost two years since TROPICAL BEAT last won a race but he was second off this mark at Musselburgh last year and has every chance of going one better on that form. Expert Fighter won here as a three-year-old but will need some help from the handicapper if he's to get his head in front again.
Formwatch
Thecornishcockney 6-1 (9-2) Went left start, soon switched right, in rear, ran out over 8f out, in a race won by Castilo Del Diablo (9-2) at Kempton 2m cnd stks (4yo+) (2) pol in Mar, 10 ran.
Tropical Beat 10-1 (9-3) In rear, hampered 4f out, never a factor, 5th of 10, 9l behind Caucus (9-6) at Newmarket 2m Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.
Blue Wave (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, driven 3f out, lost place 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 21l behind Battalion (9-0) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-112 (2) gd in Apr.
De Rigueur 5-1 (8-8) Stumbled start, mid-division, driven over 3f out, never on terms, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 37l behind Battalion (9-0) at Ripon 1m 4f hcp 0-112 (2) gd in Apr.
Expert Fighter (USA) 3-1fav (9-13) Pulled hard tracking leader, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Bin Singspiel (8-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Oct.
Highland Castle 4-1 (9-12) Led and soon clear, reduced lead halfway, ridden and headed approaching final 2f, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Presto Volante (8-11) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Apr.
Van Percy 13-2 (8-12) In rear, headway approaching 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Mighty Yar (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Dark Ranger 12-1 (9-0) In touch, headway entering final 2f, ridden to chase winner approaching final furlong, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Presto Volante (8-11) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Apr.
Palazzo Bianco 20-1 (9-0) Towards rear, reminders 7f out, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Gabrial's Star (9-5) at Chester 1m 4f app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) sft.