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14:40 Chester

Betway Huxley Stakes (Group 3) (For The Tradesman's Cup) (Class 1)

  • 7 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 75y
  • Going: Good
  • Surface: Turf
  • £75,000 added
  • Winner: £42,532
  • 2nd: £16,125
  • 3rd: £8,070
  • 4th: £4,020
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 11.65s
  • Off Time: 14:40:21
  • 7 Ran
1(5)
Silk - Royal Blue, Yellow chevron, Yellow cap, Royal Blue spots
11/4
  • Form 272110-
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 116

tracked leaders, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, ran on

2(7)
Silk - Dark blue, large yellow spots

Battalion (IRE)

19 p BFD
10/1
  • Form 31516-4
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 111

tracked leader, led inside final 2f, edged left, ridden 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost place final 100 yards

3(2)
Silk - RED, WHITE sleeves, BLUE and WHITE striped cap
8/1
  • Form 1401-62
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 108

tracked leaders, driven over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, soon beaten

4(3)
Silk - Grey, beige star, grey sleeves, beige stars and stars on cap
7/1
  • Form 6223-05
  • Age 7
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 114

dwelt, held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, ridden and stayed on into 4th inside final furlong, no impression with leaders

5(4)
Silk - Royal Blue, Maroon sash and star on cap
  • Form 2850-44
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 108

mid-division, outpaced 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to press for 2nd on outside throughout final furlong, no impression with winner

6(1)
Silk - Brown, Brown cap, Beige star
  • Form 42393-6
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 110

led, driven over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, soon ridden and lost place, beaten final furlong

7(6)
Silk - Light blue, dark blue chevrons and sleeves, dark blue and light blue quartered cap

Western Hymn

13 BFD
6/4
  • Form 4/1133-2
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 117

held up behind, driven and headway between rivals over 1f out, ridden to take narrow 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, no impression with winner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

John Gosden has won this twice in recent years and Sir Michael Stoute three times. The former runs WESTERN HYMN, who was undoubtedly disappointing on his comeback at Sandown though that was his first run since finishing third in last year's Eclipse on that track. He'd also beaten the Stoute entry Cannock Chase in the Gordon Richards Stakes earlier and can get back on the winning trail. Top Notch Tonto has been an outstanding servant and had Gabrial just over a length behind in a Listed contest at York last summer and, if the ground remains on the soft side, he can make his presence felt. Battalion landed a Listed contest at Goodwood on soft ground in September but that appears his level.

Formwatch

Cannock Chase (USA) (9-0) 11th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Highland Reel (8-9) at Sha Tin 1m 4f (1) gd in Dec.

Battalion (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Pulled hard, held up tracking leaders, 3rd going well over 2f out, 2nd under pressure over 1f out, hung left final furlong, no impression when lost 2nd final 100 yards, dropped to 4th final strides, 4th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Dartmouth (8-13) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Apr.

Fire Fighting (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, headway entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Grendisar (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Mar.

Gabrial (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Held up well off the pace in 5th, no real progress and one pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 4 1/4l behind Toormore (9-4) at Sandown 1m Grp 2 (1) gs in Apr.

Master Carpenter (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up in 5th, headway over 2f out, presssing leaders 2f out, soon ridden, unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind My Dream Boat (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr.

Top Notch Tonto (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, ridden and not quicken over 2f out, no progress after, 6th of 7, 8 1/4l behind My Dream Boat (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr.

Western Hymn 4-5fav (9-0) Led early, mostly tracked leader after, raced awkwardly witn head to one side 4f out, closed to challenge 3f out, led 2f out, driven inside final furlong, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind My Dream Boat (9-3) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr.