Racecards
15:30 Stratford
Birmingham Mail Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good (Chase Good to Soft plcs, Hurlde Good to Firm plcs)
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Form 1416/1-3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
towards rear, ridden and headway 4 out, 2 lengths down when fell last
- Form 22F-6PP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey N D Fehily
in touch, ridden and weakened 9th, tailed off when fell 12th
- Form 8218-23
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, ridden 10th, weakened after 4 out
- Form 041F7-7
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey F Keniry
towards rear, blundered 6th, rider lost irons, ridden 7th, tailed off from 11th
- Form 19F6-23
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey T J O'Brien
led 2nd, headed 10th, weakened 11th, fell last
- Form P/583F-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer R S Brookhouse
- Jockey Dave Crosse
towards rear, fell 7th
- Form 57/2P4-1
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
led, headed 2nd, led again 10th, mistakes 11th and 12th, challenged 2 out, left clear last
- Form F2/2-6P3
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
tracked leaders, weakening approaching 2 out, left poor 2nd last
- Form 633-41P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 101
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 8th, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 23PP1/3
- Age 9
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey Tony Evans
towards rear, ridden and headway 9th, chased leader 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 342-333
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J S Smith
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in touch, jumped right 9th, plugged on for poor 3rd from 3 out
- Form 5/253-31
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey T J O'Brien
Nonrunner
- Form P271-21
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Fieldsofclover, Fier Normand and Genghis are the ones for the shortlist here, with Fieldsofclover set to continue on winning ways. Fier Normand was returning after an eight month lay off when finishing third here last time, and he can be expected to come on for that run. He finished off last season in winning form and can go close. Genghis does not seem to have translaed his hurdling ability to fences, but he will have gained confidence from an overdue success and could be dangerous. Fieldsofclover was given a long break this winter and comes here a fresh horse. He has won two of his last three starts, and may still be ahead of the handicapper. Fieldsofclover can leave his punters feeling similarly.
Formwatch
Fier Normand (FR) 11-2 (10-11) Held up and behind, headway 9th, every chance 3 out, jumped left 2 out, disputing 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Mange Tout (10-1) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Baodai (FR) 11-4 (10-12) In touch, mistake 4th, ridden after 11th, last when not fluent 4 out, took 3rd post, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Great Character (10-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Jun.
Cheeky Lad 10-3 (11-4) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Kety Star (11-12) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Jun.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Chased clear leader, led just before 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May beating Ilongue (9-7) by 9l, 6 ran.
Jolejoker 12-1 (10-11) In rear, headway 3 out, kept on from next, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Beehawk (9-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Return Home 5-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Mind How You Go (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jun.
Genghis (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 4th, ridden clear 2 out, mistake last, kept on, won at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (4) gf in Jun beating Hero Again (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Fieldsofclover (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, led 7th, in command from 4 out, pushed clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in May beating Matthew Muroto (11-6) by 14l, 10 ran.