Racecards
17:00 Stratford
Fernbank Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,899
- 2nd: £1,145
- 3rd: £572
- 4th: £286
- Form 225422
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey Mr J A Best
prominent, ridden after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on to go 2nd run in
- Form 3P-9332
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 114
led, headed approaching last, no extra
The Magic Bishop
133- Form 611935-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey D C Costello
held up towards rear, hit 8th, outpaced from 4 out
- Form 333F-42
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leader, ridden 3out, soon weakened
- Form 521232
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alex Merriam
in touch, headway 4out, led approaching last, pushed out
- Form 42-4U52
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 94
always behind
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Exulto is beginning to run out of chances and it remains to be seen if first-time blinkers will galvanise him sufficiently to open his account over fences, especially as the handicapper has put him back up in the weights after a couple of seconds at Newton Abbot. Schumpters Lad and Bathwick Quest are proving equally frustrating while The Magic Bishop returns from a break. Haka Dancer ran his best race so far over the larger obstacles at Sedgefield last month but FARLEIGH HOUSE is still preferred. Third in a better contest over C&D last month, he was just beaten over hurdles off this mark at Huntingdon last Monday and is almost guaranteed to run his race here.
Formwatch
Exulto (IRE) 9-2fav (10-6) Towards rear, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, kept on from last, went 3rd last 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Mibleu (10-4) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Aug.
Schumpters Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Led until outjumped 4 out, stayed on same pace after, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Piment D'estruval (11-4) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
The Magic Bishop 9-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden before last, no impression, 5th of 10, 28l behind Stopped Out (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Bathwick Quest (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led, jumped left 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, beaten when jumped left last, being closed down for 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Numen (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Farleigh House (USA) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 5th, hit 2 out, every chance flat, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Rampant Ronnie (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Haka Dancer (USA) 4-1 (10-10) Held up in last trio, mistake 7th, outpaced in 6th 4 out, headway to 3rd before 2 out, one pace before last, left 2nd and slighty hampered last, kept on well closing stages, just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Tahiti Pearl (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.