Racecards
14:30 Chepstow
Pat Biffen 70th Birthday Handicap (Class 6)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 5f 16y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £3,000 added
Brave Ghurka
24- Form 96550-0
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer S Kirk
- Jockey L P Keniry
went right start, chased leaders and soon edging left, ridden halfway, weakened well over 1f out
- Form 09-932
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton
- Jockey P Hills
dwelt and squeezed out start, outpaced in rear and never on terms after
- Form 306
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey Jim Crowley
soon outpaced and driven along in 5th, reminders 3f out, no impression until stayed on under pressure inside final furlong
- Form 216378
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey W Buick
slowly into stride, badly outpaced and pushed along in rear, reminders 3f out, headway centre over 1f out, carried left inside final furlong, driven and stayed on to 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
- Form 0-59863
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
chased leaders, ridden on outside halfway, chased winner and hung left inside final furlong, no impression, dropped to 3rd final 100 yards
- Form 509-800
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey William Carson
chased leaders, led and hung left over 1f out, ran on well
- Form 878490-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Trainer A M Hales
- Jockey Kirsty Milczarek
went left start, chased leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Ishipink
28- Form 458-537
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey Matt Cosham
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final 100 yards
Verdict
Eve Johnson Houghton's Acquaviva is bound to be popular with backers after improved efforts in her last two races at Salisbury and over course and distance but she was rated just 42 for those events and the handicapper has seen enough to put her up 18lbs after those efforts so she looks best watched in a race taken to go to GEMMA'S DELIGHT, who gets the vote ahead of Force To Spend. Nick Littmoden's filly is less exposed than her rivals after just three starts and she has to be of interest on her debut in a handicap off a mark of just 57. David Simcock's Exceed Power has struggled against the handicapper since winning at Wolverhampton in February and probably needs dropping a few pounds. Ron Hodges has done well with his string of late and his runner here, Ishipink, has not been beaten far in her last two starts so should be thereabouts again but a better bet looks to be Gemma's Delight. James Unett's Irish import showed improved form at Warwick when a close third behind Super Yellow last time and she has solid claims off just a 1lb higher mark today.
Formwatch
Brave Ghurka 50-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, last of 13, 25l behind Tell Halaf (8-11) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Acquaviva 9-1 (8-11) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Erebus (9-0) at Chepstow 6f 3yo stk 0-65 (6) gf.
Force To Spend 66-1 (8-12) Led, ridden over 1f out, soon headed and weakened, 6th of 12, 8l behind Dever Dream (8-12) at Leicester 6f 3yo mdn (5) gf.
Exceed Power 10-1 (8-11) Slowly away, held up in rear, never dangerous, 8th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Vilnius (9-0) at Warwick 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft.
Gemma's Delight (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Always prominent, every chance well over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Super Yellow (9-2) at Warwick 6f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Boga (IRE) 28-1 (8-4) Went right start, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 15, 9l behind Super Yellow (9-2) at Warwick 6f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Satin Princess (IRE) 50-1 (7-9) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, last of 10, 28l behind Imjin River (8-13) at Kempton 6f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Ishipink 12-1 (7-13) Prominent, effort when hampered over 1f out, soon under pressure, gradually weakened, 7th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Vilnius (9-0) at Warwick 5f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) sft.