Racecards
19:10 Stratford
Saige Decking Ltd Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 213y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £14,150 added
- Winner: £7,473
- 2nd: £3,438
- 3rd: £1,719
- 4th: £860
- Form 47/64-34
- Age 10
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Ewan Whillans
- Jockey Craig Nichol
tracked leaders on inside, switched right and went 2nd before the last, led last, kept on well run-in
- Form 32143-2
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey Harry Bannister
chased leader until before the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd, dropped to 4th close home
- Form 32-U552
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer R Menzies
- Jockey Nathan Moscrop
off the pace towards rear, ridden and plugging on when left modest 4th and slightly hampered by faller at the last, weakened run-in
- Form 1137-62
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey M G Nolan
held up well in rear, plugging on when left 5th and hampered by faller at the last, stayed on well run-in, went 3rd close home, just missed 2nd
- Form 44171-6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer O Greenall & J Guerriero
- Jockey Henry Brooke
soon mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders 3 out, plugging on in 4th when fell last
- Form 1111-36
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 106
led, hit 7th, hung right home turn, headed last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in
- Form 3456-12
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer D Weston
- Jockey James Davies
chased leaders, weakened before the last
- Form 427853-
- Age 11
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer B R Summers
- Jockey James Best
never closer than mid-division, dropped to last pair and struggling 3 out
In depth
Verdict
An open contest in which SAO is only a hopeful choice. He's far from the most reliable and hasn't scored for over two and a half years but is really well handicapped on the best of his form and could go close if able to repeat the level of a much better run last time when a Perth runner-up. He's worth a chance. Sea Prince has the opposite sort of profile in that he's sound and reliable and always seems to run his race. He returned to action from a break with a typically solid effort at Southwell in May and has conditions to suit. He's the leading threat. Cracking Destiny is not ruled out off joint topweight with the latter and there's a quartet of course and distance winners also on show, of which Romanor and Admiral's Sunset appeal most in a tricky affair.
Formwatch
Cracking Destiny (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 12th, 4th and held when not fluent 2 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 14 3/4l behind The Big Lense (12-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Sea Prince 9-2 (11-13) Led until before 3 out, no impression on winner and jumped right 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Sir Tivo (12-2) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) gd in May.
Sao (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Took keen hold, led, clear 4th until 6th, driven and hung right flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Captain Ivan (11-10) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Romanor 11-2 (11-13) Held up in last, took keen hold, not fluent 7th or 11th, outpaced 4 out, closed 2 out, no extra before last, went 2nd flat, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Begin The Luck (11-2) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Whodini (IRE) 16-5 (10-6) Chased leaders, closed going strongly before 7th, blundered next, weakened after last, last of 6, 25 1/2l behind Return Ticket (12-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.
Blaze A Trail (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leader until before 6th, weakened from 2 out, last of 6, 20l behind Blueberry Wine (11-10) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Admiral's Sunset 15-8fav (10-5) In rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 4th, effort when not clear run before omitted last, switched right run-in, stayed on, went 2nd close home, just held, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Elios D'Or (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up off the pace in last pair, headway chasing leaders and wide home turn, went 2nd 2 out until ridden between last two, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Stumps Or Slips (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.