Racecards
17:50 Epsom Downs
Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 18y
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,234
- 2nd: £962
- 3rd: £481
- 4th: £240
- Form 4-23906
- Age 10
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Hector Crouch
in touch, headway over 3f out, switched right over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 47464P
- Age 7
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer L Carter
- Jockey Harry Burns
in rear, weakened over 3f out
- Form 70-3353
- Age 10
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer J J Bridger
- Jockey Danny Brock
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, effort on inner entering final furlong, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, joined post
- Form 331335
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer M Madgwick
- Jockey Daniel Muscutt
close up, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 8373-77
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer L Carter
- Jockey Paddy Bradley
raced wide, close up, lost place 4f out, tailed off
- Form 3-44235
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer R A Fahey
- Jockey Natalie Hambling
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied to join winner post
- Form 792375
- Age 8
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Patrick Pilley
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 045762
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 54
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Callum Shepherd
slowly away, in rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor
- Form 900861
- Age 5
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Michael J M Murphy
NonRunner
Verdict
The veteran Choral Festival has won here in the past but generally prefers some cut in the ground. Highlife Dancer is the other course and distance winner in the line-up and he's now dropped to his lowest mark for three years. Goodwood Moonlight was only just beaten in a similar class handicap at Goodwood before a poor run over hurdles though he finished behind Tommys Geal at Brighton in April on similar terms. The latter didn't run very well at Sandown last week but it wouldn't be a surprise to see her bounce back. Richard Fahey sends INGLEBY SPRING on the long trek south and though the four-year-old has only won once in 19 starts she generally gets into the action in this sort of grade and her rider is very good value for her claim so the journey can pay off. Gaelic Silver has a big weight but generally performs at a higher level and isn't out of this.
Formwatch
Gaelic Silver (FR) 5-1 (9-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 25l behind Marshgate Lane (10-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (6) pol in May.
Spiritual Star (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up in rear, lost action and eased over 2f out, pulled up, at Lingfield 7f hcp (4) pol in Jun.
Choral Festival 10-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, switched left inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd well inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Third Rock (8-4) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Tommys Geal 14-1 (9-6) Mid-division, chased leaders over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure final furlong, no impression, 5th of 11, 5l behind Attain (8-12) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Ledbury (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, weakened over 3f out, last of 7, dist behind Lady Makfi (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Jul.
Ingleby Spring (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Tracked winner until halfway, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 9 1/2l behind My Lucille (9-1) at Hamilton 1m hcp fll (5) gs in Jul.
Highlife Dancer 6-1 (8-13) Led until over 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Petrify (8-8) at Chepstow 1m 4f hcp (6) gf in Jul.
Goodwood Moonlight 20-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 10th of 12, dist behind Destiny's Gold (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Jul.
Rightway (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, led inside final 2f, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra, last of 6, 6l behind Caponova (8-11) at Haydock 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in Jun.