Racecards
17:35 Salisbury
Axminster Carpets Apprentice Handicap (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 074311
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey Greg Fairley
led narrowly for over 2f, stayed prominent, every chance 3f out, weakened from 2f out
- Form 224422
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 65
started slowly, pulled hard towards rear, headway from 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish
- Form 9-90740
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey R Kingscote
prominent, ridden along, weakened from 3f out
- Form 005821
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey J Millman
in touch, ridden 4f out, switched left 3f out to near side, stayed on one pace final 2f, never nearer
- Form 0-00602
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer D J S Ffrench Davis
- Jockey James Doyle
held up in touch, ridden 4f out, soon weakened
- Form 460662
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer J J Bridger
- Jockey C Haddon
prominent, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 305110
- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 57
behind, headway to chase leaders halfway, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 771726
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey A Hamblett
took keen hold in touch on outer, effort 2f out, no extra over 1f out, one pace
- Form 577002
- Age 5
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer Dr J R J Naylor
- Jockey S O'Hara
started slowly, held up towards rear, under pressure 3f out, never dangerous
- Form 0-37394
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey J F McDonald
dwelt, in rear, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, hard pressed over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, held on well
In depth
Verdict
A competitive handicap in which recent scorers Wychbury, Golden Spectrum and Edge Fund are among the more fancied runners but we will side with The Gaikwar. The term knocking on the door is often used to describe horses who narrowly miss the target but this horse answers this description in spades. He was incredibly unfortunate to lose at Brighton earlier in the week. The draw could have been kinder but a useful pilot is aboard tonight and hopes are high. Wychbury is in rude health at the moment. The form of his most recent win was upheld by Out On A Stroll's easy victory on Wednesday evening. He was scheduled to run again on Thursday. Edge Fund demonstrated improved form to land a Brighton race over a mile. The 10lb claim of the rider puts him in with a major say on this occasion. Golden Spectrum has ability but is quirky. He could win this but he is impossible to predict with any certainty. Aggravation has run well in the past at the track and has the tongue tie reapplied. Just Pour L'Amour is given first time headgear but appears difficult to win with. Of the remainder, Border Edge makes some appeal as a runner from a stable in-form. A tough race with The Gaiwkar nominated.
Formwatch
Wychbury (USA) 7-2 (9-11) Pressed leader, led over 3f out, driven clear final furlong, ran on well, won at Newbury 1m 1f app hcp (5) gf beating Rakata (9-11) by 5l, 9 ran.
The Gaikwar (IRE) 7-1 (9-10) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, ridden and headway when raced on far side 2f out, led 1f out, headed last stride, 2nd of 10, shd behind Treetops Hotel (8-2) at Brighton 1m app hcp (5) frm.
Edge Fund 6-1 (9-3) Held up rear, switched right over 2f out, ridden and kept on well to lead near finish, won at Brighton 1m hcp (6) gd beating Didoe (8-8) by a hd, 14 ran.
English Rocket (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Led 2f, tracked leader, came stand's side, led again 2f out, ridden, headed just inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Arry Dash (9-11) at Sandown 1m app hcp (5) gs in Jul.
Border Edge 11-2 (8-7) Led narrowly early, ridden clear over 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Grizedale (9-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) gs.
Golden Spectrum (IRE) 11-2 (9-1) Always in rear division, last of 14, 38l behind Fairy Monarch (8-7) at Pontefract 1m hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Mystic Lad 33-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden halfway, weakened 3f out, 9th of 10, 23l behind Giocoso (9-4) at Goodwood 1m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Juste Pour L'Amour 10-1 (9-9) Held up, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 14, 8l behind Singlet (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (5) gd.