Racecards
16:10 Stratford
Claydon Horse Exercisers Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
Megaton
28- Form 0-31312
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey A P McCoy
always prominent, led after 9th, ridden clear approaching 2 out, easily
Dr Cerullo
18- Form 33687-3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
held up, in touch, headway after 9th, weakening when not fluent 2 out
- Form 2P6P/18-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer S B Clark
- Jockey D C Costello
prominent, driven along 9th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 257-96P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey C M Studd
held up, in touch, driven along 8th, raced awkwardly approaching 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 284316-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer P G Murphy
- Jockey L P Aspell
chased leader until 9th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
- Form PPPPP-0
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
in rear, driven along after 8th, weakenend 9th
Cristophe
12- Form P5F-5P7
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
led, headed after 9th, soon ridden, no impression on winner approaching 2 out
- Form 2135-93
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr N Williams
Nonrunner
- Form P/321P3-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Megaton can give weight away all round here, with Sky Warrior, Dr Cerullo and Ingres all worth a mention at least. Meaton as been a model of consistency this term, winning two of his last four starts, and as fast ground appears to be the key to this son of Nashwan, he can make the most of the prevailing conditions to strike again, with Richard Johnson replacing Tony McCoy in the plate. The one reservation about him being a good thing is the longer trip here, but he has been found a moderate contest. Sky Warrior is much better handicapped over hurdles than fences, but even so has a job on to topple the selection at the weights, while Dr Cerullo was a one-paced third over the track-and-trip last time and would prefer further. Ingres has place claims on last season's form but is hard to fancy, and Zarakash has been off nearly three months. Nevertheless he should be prominent for a while, without being good enough to stop Megaton from adding to his haul.
Formwatch
Megaton 10-3 (11-10) In touch, outpaced after 3 out, rallied to chase winner approaching last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 7l behind Ela Re (11-12) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jun.
Dr Cerullo 10-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, driven along approaching 3 out, stayed on from next to press for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 15, 10l behind Harrycat (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Wild Chimes (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway to join leaders 7th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 15, 29l behind Here We Go (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Ingres 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 6th to 9th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Rushneeyriver (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 17 ran.
Esters Boy 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching next, 6th of 8, well behind Nite Fox (10-8) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) gs in Oct.
Nightwatchman (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along, behind from 6th, 13th of 14, well behind Sultan Fontenaille (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
Sky Warrior (FR) 11-1 (10-6) Held up, driven along 6th, headway next, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 6l behind The Names Bond (10-3) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Zarakash (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Prominent, headway when mistake 3 out, chased leaders until weakened approaching last, left 3rd and mistake last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Traprain (11-7) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.