Racecards
15:40 Brighton
Blue Chip Handicap (Class 6)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 7f 214y
- Going: Firm, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 173732
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 57
always about same place in mid-division
- Form 569-088
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 57
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 000-000
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer Mrs H Sweeting
- Jockey G Baker
always behind
- Form 402015-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Hayley Turner
chased clear leading pair, closed and driven to lead over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
- Form 0-60212
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 55
in touch on outer, kept on final furlong, but never going pace to reach leaders
- Form 051006
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 54
- Trainer Ms J S Doyle
- Jockey James Doyle
in touch, driven along halfway, headway to chase leading pair over 1f out, led final 100 yards, soon clear
- Form 60/47-60
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 54
- Trainer P Mitchell
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
behind, pushed along halfway, soon beaten
- Form 09070-4
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey C Catlin
pressed leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 080
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer M D I Usher
- Jockey R Havlin
dwelt and always behind
- Form 0-98477
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer J J Bridger
- Jockey N Chalmers
in touch, ridden 2f out, soon beaten
- Form 70-7830
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey S Sanders
keen hold, tracked leaders, travelling well over 2f out, soon ridden and found little, kept on reluctantly to take 3rd final 100 yards
- Form 0-60740
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer Mrs N Smith
- Jockey E Creighton
always behind
- Form 0/68-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 47
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey R L Moore
raced in mid-division, ridden and one pace final 2f
- Form 093850
- Age 7
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 46
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey S Carson
always towards rear
In depth
Verdict
A very open handicap and Pepper Road gets a narrow vote over Golden Spectrum and Whatatodo. Robin Bastiman's seven-year-old has been showing signs of a form revival. His recent fourth behind Merlin's Profit at Wolverhampton was only in banded company but he is weighted accordingly. He needs everything to drop right but he has shown a liking for this track and he is worth an interest at decent odds. Golden Spectrum also performed with credit here last month and wasn't disgraced next time at Wolverhampton. The handicapper is relenting but he should still make his presence felt. Whatatodo is from a yard in good form and if fit following a winter break she could be capable of going close. Magic Wonder and Oh Boy are two others worthy of a mention but Pepper Road looks the pick of the weights this afternoon and he gets the verdict.
Formwatch
Golden Spectrum (IRE) 9-1 (8-12) Held up, headway to go 2nd over 2f out, led near finish, headed last strides, 2nd of 13, hd behind Major Blade (7-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol.
Miss Madame (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden 3f out, never nearer, 8th of 13, 7l behind Turner's Touch (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Whatatodo 15-8fav (8-10) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 6l behind Wayward Shot (9-0) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd in Sept.
Magic Warrior 13-8fav (9-8) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd well inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Cottingham (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) pol.
Christmas Truce (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3f out, led 2f out, ridden, headed 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 16, 3l behind Wild Pitch (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Elvina Hills (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) In touch, not much room 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 18l behind Humility (9-2) at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (6) pol in Apr.
Barachois Gaudy 5-1jt-fav (8-11) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no headway, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 10l behind Tamora (8-11) at Kempton 7f banded stk (7) pol.
Pepper Road 10-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 4th of 11, 6l behind Merlins Profit (9-2) at W'hampton 7f banded stk (7) pol in Apr.