Racecards
14:40 York
Betfred Melrose Handicap (Class 2)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 1m 6f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £80,000 added
- Winner: £49,800
- 2nd: £14,912
- 3rd: £7,456
- 4th: £3,728
- Form 3111
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, led briefly inside final furlong, kept on towards finish
- Form 6-31316
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey C R King
held up in touch on outer, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Rocket Ship
17- Form 422211
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 501221
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey J Garritty
held up behind, pushed along over 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, never dangerous
- Form 02-1213
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 414-516
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer E F Vaughan
- Jockey Jim Crowley
held up behind, headway and switched right over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
Penhill
35- Form 912411
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer J D Bethell
- Jockey P McDonald
held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 55241
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Daniel Muscutt
tracked leaders and keen, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 53-5116
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey R Kingscote
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, held on well, driven out
- Form 825242
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey S De Sousa
held up in touch and keen, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
- Form 213513
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Cam Hardie
close up, led over 8f out, headed over 1f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
Uradel (GER)
83- Form 21-6041
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Hanagan
close up, led over 8f out, chased leader, faded inside final furlong
- Form 1176
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
held up mid-division, weakened over 2f out
- Form 153122
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 82
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
- Form 31-1585
- Age 3
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey L Morris
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened over 2f out
- Form 96361
- Age 3
- Weight 8-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Joe Doyle
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, in 4th and held when saddle slipped and unseated rider towards finish
- Form 7-53122
- Age 3
- Weight 8-1
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer E De Giles
- Jockey Noel Garbutt
behind, pushed along over 4f out, headway 2f out, kept on and left 4th inside final furlong
- Form 9-75164
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P W Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey L Dettori
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
This looks as competitive as ever but it could pay to look no further than top weight CONNECTICUT. He bids for a four-timer having landed the odds with the minimum of fuss at Newmarket and Luca Cumani knows what it takes to win this. Rocket Ship is another progressive type with every chance as he steps up in class and it's unlikely we have seen the best of Ascot winner Battersea yet. Penhill was a ready winner in this grade at Ripon while Farquhar wasn't beaten far at Haydock last time and is reunited with winning partner Frankie Dettori. Our Gabrial and Captain Morley have won lower grade handicaps recently but Uradel is something of an unknown quantity at this level for new trainer Willie Mullins having won a claimer in France back in June.
Formwatch
Connecticut 8-11fav (9-1) Close up, went 2nd 2f out, led entering final furlong, ran on, readily, won at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul beating Xinbama (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Urban Moon (IRE) 9-2fav (9-11) Prominent, led inside first 2f, went clear over 4f out, soon briefly unbalanced, strongly pressed 2f out, headed over 1 1/2f out where dropped to 3rd, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 6th of 9, 8l behind Wexford Town (8-13) at Down Royal 1m 3f 3yo hcp gf in Jun.
Rocket Ship 5-4fav (8-11) Made all, ridden and clear over 1f out, kept on well, won at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf beating Hidden Gold (9-1) by 4l, 5 ran.
Our Gabrial (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) In rear, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, hard pressed, just held on post, won at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd beating Astronereus (9-6) by ns, 10 ran.
Captain Morley 10-1 (8-11) Steadied start, held up in mid-division on outside, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd final 100 yards, never going pace of leading duo, 3rd of 18, 4l behind Elite Army (9-1) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Adventure Seeker (IRE) 7-1 (8-13) Held up in last pair, headway over 2f out, plugged on under pressure inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 13, 9l behind Double Bluff (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Penhill 9-4 (9-1) Slowly away, in rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Ripon 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Jul beating Notarised (8-13) by 6l, 5 ran.
Fiery Sunset 6-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon clear, held on well, won at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Jul beating Button Down (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Vent De Force 12-1 (9-1) In touch in rear, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, last of 6, 30l behind Hartnell (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 5f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Notarised 8-11fav (9-2) Led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Bayan Kasirga (8-12) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Sebastian Beach (IRE) 11-4fav (9-7) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd halfway, ridden over 1f out, lost 2nd 1f out, 3rd and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Taws (8-4) at Salisbury 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Uradel (GER) 2-1fav (9-1) won at Chantilly(FR) 1m 4f 3yo clm gd in Jun beating Rain Artist's (8-11) by 2l, 6 ran.
From Frost 16-1 (9-10) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 10, 10l behind Our Gabrial (9-5) at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Innocent Touch (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Awkwardly away and rider lost iron briefly, keen tracked leaders after 2f, ridden to lead 2f out, headed narrowly over 1f out, rallied to lead again inside final furlong, headed final stride, 2nd of 5, shd behind Mizzou (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Fun Mac (GER) 20-1 (8-5) Took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along and headway 3f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 13, 8l behind Double Bluff (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Mantou (IRE) 10-3 (9-7) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, held on well, won at Newcastle 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs beating Stanarley Pic (8-13) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Kashmiri Sunset 7-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, ridden to lead briefly when hung right over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Yaakooum (8-12) at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Battersea 10-1 (8-0) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, clear final furlong, stayed on well, won at Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jul beating Oasis Fantasy (8-0) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Farquhar (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on outside from over 2f out, stayed on final 100 yards, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Montaly (8-8) at Haydock 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gd.