Racecards
13:45 Towcester
Grafton Beginners' Chase (Class 4)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 3m 102y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,549
- 2nd: £1,336
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
- Form 332-122
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey L P Aspell
tracked leading pair, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 10th, pushed along after 3 out, blundered next, soon held and no chance with easy winner
- Form 0P-525P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey G B Watters
made most, headed briefly 5th, clear after 3 out, stayed on strongly, eased run-in
- Form 3-1PPU
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
pressed winner, hit 2nd, led briefly 5th, went left next, reminders after 8th, went left and lost 2nd 10th, outpaced before 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Spirit Of Shankly should find this easier than recent tests but his jumping remains a concern. ROYALRAISE (NAP) has done well over hurdles considering he's always looked a chaser in the making. He won between the flags when only a four-year-old and can get off the mark over the larger obstacles under Rules at the first time of asking. Yanmare is tried in a visor but it would need to bring about massive improvement on his efforts to date.
Formwatch
Royalraise (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, 2nd after 8th, led 13th, slight lead and pressed from 3 out, ridden and headed last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Saint Roque (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Spirit Of Shankly 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, slow 4th, soon lost place, mistake 9th, struggling in rear next, pulled up 5 out, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Yanmare (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, mistake when hampered and unseated rider 6th, at Leicester 2m 7f (3) hvy in Mar.