Racecards
14:25 York
Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 5f 188y
- Going: Good to Firm (Good in Places)
- Surface: Turf
- £150,000 added
- Winner: £77,310
- 2nd: £36,255
- 3rd: £18,135
- 4th: £9,060
- Form 92-1121
- Age 3
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 102
tracked clear leader, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 632-411
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
Aimeric
35- Form 241
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer R Varian
- Jockey David Egan
tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
- Form 611111
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer D Menuisier
- Jockey P Cosgrave
raced wide early, led and soon clear, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 113
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey S De Sousa
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
- Form 21-2
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out
- Form 11143
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer S Woods
- Jockey Daniel Muscutt
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
- Form 14-6258
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer G Boughey
- Jockey Rowan Scott
raced wide close up, ridden and weakened 2f out
- Form 4-22321
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M P Sheehy
raced wide towards rear, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 61-6033
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer C Hills
- Jockey K Shoemark
in touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on same pace
Sheer Rocks
14- Form 853143
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton
- Jockey Tom Marquand
close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 9-33418
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Callum Hutchinson
towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, stayed on one pace, nearest finish
- Form 0-55114
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey Hollie Doyle
very slowly away, in rear, steady headway from 3f out, switched left twice approaching final 2f, led approaching final furlong, ridden clear, eased close home
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Sheer Rocks looks a progressive sort and was hampered leaving the stalls when fourth behind the prolific Caius Chorister at Goodwood two runs ago. He gave the impression a further step up in trip would suit when third at Ascot later. Neither INVERNESS nor Soulcombe had the clearest of passages in the race won by Wednesday’s Great Voltigeur runner-up Secret State at Goodwood. They meet on the same terms here and Charlie Hills’ colt, who is bred to stay, may offer most value. Soul Stopper is on a roll and has already won over the trip while Wild Crusade has form at the track and William Buick prefers him to Al Nafir. Nusret wasn’t winning out of turn at the Curragh and Joseph O’Brien wouldn’t be running him in this if he didn’t think he’d stay the extra.
Formwatch
Wild Crusade 7-4 (9-3) Made all, pushed along under 3f out, ridden 2f out, edged right but extended lead over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong and going away at line, won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Warren Point (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 3 ran.
Soul Stopper 10-11fav (9-8) Tracked leaders, chased leader approaching 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Chester 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Mister Camacho (8-5) by 4 3/4l, 4 ran.
Aimeric 7-4 (9-5) Held up, ridden 4f out, chased leaders 2f out, ran on well to lead inside final furlong, won at Chester 1m 4f mdn stks (3) gd in Jul beating El Habeeb (9-5) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Caius Chorister (FR) 5-1 (9-5) Keen behind leaders, travelled strongly to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, held on gamely close home, won at Goodwood 1m 3f hcp (3) gf in Jul beating Paradias (9-4) by nk, 12 ran.
Temporize 11-10fav (9-2) Led, headed 5f out, tracked winner until ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 6 3/4l behind Old Port (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Al Nafir (IRE) 7-4 (9-10) Led, slightly outpaced when headed over 2f out, soon ridden, rallied inside final furlong, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Judith (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 2f stks (4) gd in Jun.
Savvy Knight (IRE) 8-11fav (9-9) Held up in 3rd, pushed along home turn, ridden and no response over 2f out, last of 3, 4 1/2l behind Australian Angel (8-6) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Mr Alan 50-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear of mid-division, switched sharply left over 2f out, headway out wide over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 8th of 19, 3 3/4l behind Secret State (9-6) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp stks (2) gf in Jun.
Nusret 9-4 (9-8) Held up in touch, 5th halfway, closed on leaders over 2f out, 4th 2f out, challenged travelling well 1f out, led final 150 yards, ridden and kept on well, won at Curragh 1m 4f mdn gd in Jul beating Over The Rainbow (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Inverness (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) Held up in behind leaders, headway going okay 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Secret State (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Sheer Rocks 8-1 (9-11) Handy, pushed along well over 2f out, ridden and switched right well over 1f out, ran on towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Hamaki (9-10) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Adjuvant (IRE) 18-1 (8-11) Mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, never near to challenge, 8th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Secret State (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Soulcombe 9-2 (8-4) Slowly away, held up in rear, nudged along and outpaced briefly over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on strongly final 100yds, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Secret State (9-9) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Jul.