Racecards
16:40 Stratford
Birmingham Mail Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 05-2413
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, headway on inside 8th, ridden after 3 out, disputing 6 lengths 2nd when fell last
- Form 25-R471
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Christian Williams
chased leader, led 10th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out
- Form P34-231
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Jamie Poulton
- Jockey S Curran
in touch, hit 4th, led approaching 4 out, ridden clear approaching 2 out, ran on well flat
- Form 253-P50
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey T J Dreaper
led, blundered 4th, headed 10th, weakened 4 out, jumped very slowly 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form 7P8-5U6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
mid-division, behind from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 0243-21
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
held up in touch, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, badly hampered 3 out, not recover
- Form 60-3344
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer D E Cantillon
- Jockey L P Aspell
held up, not fluent 8th, headway 4 out, 3 lengths 3rd when fell 3 out
- Form 80/146P-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey James Davies
reminder after 7th, always behind, tailed off on 10th
- Form 5U4P-3P
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey W T Kennedy
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, weakend 9th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
- Form 75-4P4P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey M Batchelor
always behind, lost touch from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1U12-11
- Age 12
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey P J Brennan
raced keenly, held up and behind, headway 11th, every chance 3 out, no impression on winner from approaching 2 out
In depth
Verdict
We will give a sporting selection here in the shape of Maclean, who can take this ahead of Fieldofclover and Montys Tan. Gary Moore's five-year-old is quite a quirky character, but can produce some decent efforts. He made his chase debut behind Twentytwosilver at Fontwell last month and despite it being a competitive handicap he was made the 7/2 favourite. He will have learnt from that experience and is on a fair mark on the pick of his hurdles form. Montys Tan is on the upgrade having easily beat today's rival San Marco here last time. Another bold bid can be expected. Fieldsofclover showed tremendous spirit to get the better of Terrible Tennant at Hereford last time and is another worthy of respect. All in all a very tricky contest and Maclean is really a token selection.
Formwatch
Damarisco (FR) 13-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 7th, ridden after 3 out, found little, mistake last, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Golden Crusader (11-5) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jun.
Montys Tan (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Tracked leader to 6th, stayed prominent, led 3 out, soon clear, won at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating San Marco (10-0) by 5l, 9 ran.
Corrib Drift (USA) 13-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, stayed on well flat to lead close home, won at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Westfield Dancer (10-9) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Maclean 7-2fav (11-8) Mid-division, blundered 5th, ridden and effort after 4 out, one pace from next, 6th of 14, 19l behind Twentytwosilver (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Fieldsofclover (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after 3 out, led just after 2 out, all out, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Jun beating Terrible Tenant (11-3) by a shd, 18 ran.
Sharaab (USA) 13-2 (11-1) Held up, ridden 4 out, good headway on outer approaching 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 10, 10l behind Borehill Joker (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Frosty Jak 4-1fav (10-7) Always towards rear and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sandmartin (10-11) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
San Marco (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Led until headed 3 out, rallied to regain 2nd 2 out, no impression when mistake last, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Montys Tan (9-12) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.