Racecards
13:55 Ascot
Shawbrook Bank Graduation Chase (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £15,640
- 2nd: £4,620
- 3rd: £2,310
- 4th: £1,155
- Form F4712-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
prominent, led 11th, ridden clear 2 out, ran on well
- Form 351-F5U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, moderate 3rd
- Form 1F1165-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in rear, mistakes 7th and 10th, chased winner 2 out, weakened last
- Form R15221-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
held up in touch, jumped left 5th, stumbled 12th, pulled up after next
- Form 314/52-P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leader, mistake 2nd, lost place 10th, moderate 4th
- Form P225-22
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Miss Z C Davison
- Jockey Gemma Gracey-Davison
soon led, not fluent 9th, headed 11th, weakened next, moderate 5th
In depth
Verdict
Gilbarry has been let down by his jumping so far this season and is now tried in blinkers. He's best watched until showing signs of a revival while it's almost a year since Hell's Bay last raced and he has struggled on soft ground in the past. Aerial stepped up on previous efforts when fourth in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham, however, and shouldn't be far away but there should be more to come this season from GIORGIO QUERCUS. Probably over the top when well behind Gilbarry at Ayr in April, he has conditions in his favour today and this is only his sixth start over fences. Soixante and the maiden Canni Thinkaar look to be out of their depth in this grade.
Formwatch
Aerial (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Mid-division, hit 6th and 9th, blundered 11th, headway approaching 3 out, went 4th 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 20, 15l behind Great Endeavour (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Gilbarry (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, struggling when mistake 10th, tailed off when refused and unseated rider last, in a race won by I'msingingtheblues (11-9) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Nov, 11 ran.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) Prominent, led 4th, hit 8th, soon headed, lost place next, headway 12th, no impression approaching 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 7, 48l behind Gilbarry (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Hell's Bay (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear on inside, headway 11th, led travelling well 2 out, hit last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan beating Medermit (11-4) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Soixante (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 4th and not on terms with leading trio when blundered 18th, tailed off in 4th when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Hold On Julio (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Canni Thinkaar (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Led and jumped well, pushed along before 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Mossley (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gd in Nov.