Racecards
15:00 Stratford
Birmingham Mail Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 4F69-3P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
led to 1st, chased leaders after, reminder 5th, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, ran on well
- Form 54310-6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up and behind, ridden 3 out, no response
- Form 44/121-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Miss J Feilden
- Jockey Mr Matthew Smith
held up in touch, hit 5th, soon ridden, weakened after 6th, tailed off
- Form 72-1252
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer R S Brookhouse
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up and behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, no impression
- Form 246-210
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey R Johnson
prominent, led 2nd, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 34633-P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer W K Goldsworthy
- Jockey Christian Williams
led 1st to 2nd, chased leader until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 61183-1
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey T J O'Brien
raced keenly, held up, headway 6th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
- Form 0/9070-4
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 76
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Estate and Master Nimbus have the best recent form on show and we will side with the first named, Three Ships may do best of the others. Estate in fact ran well over course and distance last month, finishing just under a length behind Foodbroker Founder. There were some decent types behind that day and a similar effort this afternoon should be good enough. Master Nimbus comes here following a game victory in a lady riders handicap at Wetherby. He still looks on a very decent mark and should make his presence felt. Three Ships is the dark horse in the line up having won on his last outing over hurdles a year ago. Since then he has had a very successful all-weather flat campaign and may be open to plenty of improvement. East Tycoon is from a top yard and has to be respected on his return to hurdling, but the best recent form on show is from Estate and this one gets the verdict.
Formwatch
East Tycoon (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake and weakened 14th, behind when pulled up in race won by Celtic Boy (11-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun, 11 ran.
Temple Place (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-8) Held up, hit 6th, soon ridden and struggling, 6th of 9, 41l behind Red Moor (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in May.
Three Ships 10-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, tracked leaders approaching 4th, narrow lead 2 out, hard ridden and under pressure last, stayed on well flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Jun '05 beating Constable Burton (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Estate 11-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden and every chance flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Foodbroker Founder (10-10) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Jun.
Ellerslie Tom 7-1 (10-13) Led and keen, headed approaching 2 out, weakened and mistake, 12th of 15, 43l behind Mac Federal (10-6) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Imperial Rocket (USA) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Lord Henry (11-0) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
Master Nimbus 4-1 (10-4) Led, headed 3rd, led again next, mistake 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, held on, won at Wetherby 2m ldy hcp hdl (4) gf in Jun beating The Names Bond (11-5) by a hd, 9 ran.
Lanos (POL) 25-1 (10-12) Keen, in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 14, 13l behind Pedler's Profiles (10-9) at Worcester 2m sll hcp hdl (5) gf in Jun.