Racecards
18:10 Stratford
Happy Birthday Flos Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 98y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,200 added
- Winner: £5,882
- 2nd: £2,710
- 3rd: £1,354
- 4th: £678
- Form 2F6906-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey Paul O'Brien
led, headed and weakened into 3rd 2 out
- Form 57133-1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 2 out, soon pushed along and one pace, no chance with winner
- Form 3/3F63U-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
tracked leader, led in inside going well 2 out, pushed easily clear between last
- Form 112P4/P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Jack Barber
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
close to tape when starter let them go, shied right and unseated rider
- Form 33/69F4-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
never going in last, reminder after 8th, jumped slowly 10th and next, soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
The Unit is on his lowest-ever mark over fences but that’s because he hasn’t won since 2018. Western Miller is 10lb lower than his last winning mark and 2-3 around here but Forecast has yet to win over fences and has had wind surgery since last seen in October. GO STEADY has gone up 7lb for winning at Warwick but probably warrants another try at this level and he’s proved largely consistent since returning to chasing. Ready And Able is well treated but hasn’t been firing on all cylinders.
Formwatch
Western Miller (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Tracked leader until ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 7, 23 3/4l behind Some Reign (11-11) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Go Steady 9-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, 3rd when not fluent 13th, closed 3 out, led before 2 out, headed last, led again flat, stayed on, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May beating Whoshotwho (11-13) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Forecast 7-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, progress into midfield 6th, awkward 8th, close up when blundered and unseated rider 10th, at Hexham 2m 4f (4) sft in Oct.
Darcy Ward (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Led, headed after 3rd, lost further ground and sat last before 4th, pushed along and tailed off before 7th, pulled up before 8th, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ready And Able (IRE) 17-2 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, ridden and close up after 15th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 8, 23 1/4l behind Head To The Stars (10-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
The Unit (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Last up last, mistake 5th, plugged on in modest 5th from 4 out, went 4th close home, 4th of 8, 24 1/2l behind Pistol Whipped (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.