Racecards
19:30 Wexford (IRE)
Whitford House Hotel Chase
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- €13,000 added
- Winner: €8,970
- 2nd: €2,210
- 3rd: €1,040
- 4th: €650
- Form 1276-U6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 122
raced in 2nd, led after 4 out, soon attempted to assert, stayed on best under pressure from before last
- Form U529B-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer T Mullins
- Jockey D N Russell
led, clear early, mistake 4 out, soon headed, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from before last
- Form 2132UP-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer John O'Callaghan
- Jockey Paul Townend
tracked leaders, ridden in moderate 4th approaching 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace
- Form 5/1918-U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
tracked leaders, moderate 3rd approaching 2 out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
- Form P3913P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer G J O'Keeffe
- Jockey P F Mangan
in touch towards rear, progress to chase leaders 3 out, no impression approaching next
- Form 25-5701
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer L J Donnelly
- Jockey M Darcy
held up early, soon tracked leaders, struggling when not fluent 2 out, soon no extra
- Form 0788/F-F
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 87
in touch towards rear, no impression from 4 out
- Form 40590P/
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P T Flavin
- Jockey C O'Farrell
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
In depth
Verdict
FOSTERS CROSS, a Grade 3 winner over hurdles and fences last October, has been mixing it with the very best over the bigger obstacles without quite managing to convince. He had a run over timber at Galway last week and this is his easiest task to date over fences. He has Swift Councel a long way behind when runner-up to Captain Cee Bee at Naas in February while Away We Go, who has been finding life tough in handicaps after making a winning chasing bow over 2m6f at Tramore in May, could find this on the short side. The biggest threat may emerge in the shape of Royal Choice, a Grade 3 novice winner on heavy going at Cork in December who would have scored there last time but for falling at the last. Willies Girl was having only her fourth start over fences when scoring easily at Limerick and further progress is likely.
Formwatch
Away We Go (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Soon led, headed after 5 out, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no extra in 6th next, kept on one pace, 6th of 19, 8l behind Wins Now (11-7) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123 gf in Jul.
Fosters Cross (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Disputed early, soon chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden and no extra approaching 2 out, weakened before straight, 15th of 19, 44l behind Overturn (11-6) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gf in Jul.
Swift Counsel (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Chasing Cars (10-3) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov chs gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Royal Choice (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Rear of mid-division, smooth headway into 5th approaching 3 out, strong progress to lead before last where blundered and unseated rider, in a race won by Maid Of Malabar (10-11) at Cork 2m 4f 5yo mrs chs gf in May, 13 ran.
Who's Deal (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Held up behind leaders early, 7th halfway, dropped towards rear before 5 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Beau Michael (11-6) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs gf in Jul, 8 ran.
Willies Girl (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, closed from before 7 out, led travelling best before 2 out, clear when mistake last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Limerick 2m 3f beg chs gd in Jul beating Unanswered (11-9) by 5l, 16 ran.
Platium Starlight (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 6th 6 out, fell next, in a race won by Pom Flyer (11-2) at Tipperary 2m 1f chs gd in Jul, 9 ran.
Oily Colman (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place 9th, soon towards rear and weakened, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rory's Sister (11-8) at Tralee 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 gs in Sep '08, 16 ran.