Racecards
17:00 Southwell
Bet Multiples - Betdaq Handicap (Class 5)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Standard/Slow
- Surface: Fibresand
- £3,800 added
- Form 135121
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer M Wigham
- Jockey S Whitworth
keen, held up in last place, headway on inside 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Babieca (USA)
573- Form 21/
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey P Makin
chased leader 2f, remained close up, ridden halfway, weakened 3f out
- Form 52088-5
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey Dale Gibson
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 218-244
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer Sir Mark Prescott
- Jockey S Sanders
led, ridden over 2f out, driven and hung left over 1f out, headed and hung right just inside final furlong, no extra final 75yds
- Form 472244-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer N Wilson
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
keen, in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 795060-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey M Fenton
tracked leader 6f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, stayed on
In depth
Verdict
Silver Hotspur left a good impression when winning here last time and is probably capable of getting this extra furlong to follow up from My Mentor and King's Ransom. The Michael Wigham-trained selection has been placed well to win five of his last 10 races, including a four length win from Memphis Man last time. A 6lb penalty clearly makes things tougher, but the suggestion from his pedigree is that the step up in trip might help him to defy that so he is the pick. My Mentor is 5lb higher than when scoring over this trip at Lingfield last summer, but he has shown some form here in defeat before. First-time blinkers may have that galvanising effect that they so often do and with Seb Sanders up he is respected. King's Ransom races over his optimum trip and does act here, but he lacks toe at the business end and is likely to find a couple too good. Babieca is more interesting and connections clearly think a bit of him after bringing him back here for his first run in 19 months. If he takes to the surface then and retains ability then he's not be without a chance. Wodhill Gold looks best of the rest but Silver Hotspur gets the vote.
Formwatch
Silver Hotspur 11-8fav (8-7) Keen, in touch, chased leader over 2f out, edged left and led approaching final furlong, pushed out, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs beating Memphis Man (8-13) by 4l, 5 ran.
Babieca (USA) 10-11fav (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f, led over 1f, ran on final furlong, won at Newcastle 7f 2yo mdn auc (5) gf in Jul '06 beating Fongs Gazelle (8-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Kildare Sun (IRE) 18-1 (8-4) Dwelt, towards rear, ridden halfway, headway over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 7, 6l behind Denbera Dancer (8-5) at Southwell 1m hcap (4) fbs.
My Mentor (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Led, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 6l behind Safari Sundowner (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcap (5) pol.
Superior Star 20-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, outpaced when hung left over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 11, 9l behind She's Our Lass (9-4) at Ayr 1m 2f hcap (5) gs in Sept.
Exit Smiling 25-1 (8-7) Never better than mid-division, 13th of 19, 7l behind Fragrancy (9-4) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) gd in Oct.
King's Ransom 5-2fav (8-10) Soon led, headed over 1f out, rallied under pressure, no extra close home, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Komreyev Star (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Wodhill Gold 10-3 (8-4) Led 1f, soon in rear and ridden, outpaced over 3f out, never dangerous, 4th of 5, 9l behind Sophia Gardens (8-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Jan.