Racecards
16:00 Stratford
Birmingham Evening Mail Summer Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form U30-464
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey A P McCoy
led, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace flat
- Form 1P118-2
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leader until after 4, soon pushed along, weakened approaching 3 out, eased once beaten
- Form 7P0-722
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up and behind, headway after 6th, never near leaders
- Form 713-550
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, reminders after 4th, mistake 5th, weakened next
- Form 78-917P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey Jim Crowley
held up, reminders after 4th, never on terms
- Form 44-4F05
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer M C Chapman
- Jockey A C Coyle
took keen hold in mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, one pace
- Form F2P6P-5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in touch, mistake 3rd, ridden and one pace from 3 out
- Form 837-13F
- Age 4
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
mid-division, outpaced 6th, rallied 3 out, ran on flat
- Form 343814-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J L Flint
- Jockey R Stephens
mid-division, lost place 6th, no danger after
- Form F42-823
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer W K Goldsworthy
- Jockey C Llewellyn
always prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 2 out, ran on
- Form 624-420
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 87
behind, ridden 4th, never near leaders
- Form 854470-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer P R Rodford
- Jockey K Burke
always behind
- Form 7P4-944
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Ms Sue Smith
- Jockey J P Byrne
always behind
In depth
Verdict
In a very open affair Lord Lington gets a narrow vote from Genuine Article and Celtic Romance. The selection unseated his rider in a much better race here last time, but his previous two efforts were excellent. He finished third to Swift Swallow at Worcester on his previous run and a repeat of that run could be good enough here. Celtic Romance may be a long way out of the handicap, but Sue Smith's six-year-old finished well to end up just four lengths behind Kims Pearl at Hereford last time and could go well at a decent price. However the main threat to our choice could be Genuine Article, a dual course winner here last year who made a very pleasing return to this track when chasing home Darrias back in May. He obviously loves this track and goes on any ground so has to be respected. Ton-Chee is another to consider for each-way purposes but our idea of the winner is Lord Lington.
Formwatch
Castleshane (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on from last, 4th of 9, 3l behind Xellance (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jun.
Genuine Article (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Led, hit and headed 6th, led again 2 out, headed last, not quicken, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Darrias (10-10) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in May.
Lupin (FR) 9-2fav (10-11) Held up and behind, headway 3 out, chased winner 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Achilles Wings (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf in Jun.
Siegfrieds Night (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, reminders and outpaced approaching 4th, stayed on from 2 out, 5th of 9, 7l behind Xellance (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Jun.
Ton-Chee 8-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway 5th, led after 3 out, clear when jumped left and mistake last, kept on, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in May beating He's Hot Right Now (11-2) by 1l, 6 ran.
Kentmere (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Held up, hit 5th, headway to go 2nd next, ridden approaching 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell at the last in race won by Caliban (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Jun, 7 ran.
Sigwells Club Boy 9-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division, ridden 4th, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 7, well behind Genghis (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb.
Imperial Rocket (USA) 4-1fav (11-1) Led, headed after 1st, led again 3rd, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Kims Pearl (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gf in Jun.