Racecards
16:00 Epsom Downs
Totepool Amateur Derby Handicap (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 10y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 304-358
- Age 4
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey Mr S P Jones
behind, taken to wide outside straight and soon struggling, kept on from over 1f out
- Form 873142
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer C Hills
- Jockey Mr D Sarabia
held up in rear, headway on wide outside to over 3f out, stayed on final 2f, never able to challenge
- Form 314415
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Mr S Walker
mid-division, headway to chase leading pair early straight until weakened over 1f out
- Form 405225
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Mr W Hogg
chased leaders, led early straight, narrowly headed over 2f out, regained lead inside final furlong, pushed along and kept on well
- Form 841513
- Age 4
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Mr G Tumelty
chased leaders, ridden 5f out, soon lost place, well behind final 3f, tailed off
- Form 311415
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Mrs A L M King
- Jockey Mr J P O'Farrell
held up in rear, pushed along 5f out, headway on outside 3f out, stayed on one pace final 2f, never able to challenge
- Form 6-00346
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey Mr Matthew Smith
with leader, led over 8f out, headed over 5f out, ridden and weakened early straight
- Form 865344
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey Mr Loek Van Der Ham
slowly into stride, soon close up, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final 2f, not pace to reach leading pair
- Form 520532
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Mr J Neuroth
slight lead to over 8f out, regained narrow lead over 5f out, headed early straight, regained lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, unable to quicken
Beltane
64- Form 7000-08
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 37
- Trainer W De Best-Turner
- Jockey Mr C Von Ballmoos
always behind, lost touch final 5f, tailed off straight
In depth
Verdict
Croon encounters a softer surface for the first time but there is no reason why Hugh Morrison's colt should not handle the ground and, under leading amateur Simon Walker, he gets the vote over Nero's Return and Mr Aitch. The last mentioned is in good form at present but his best form is on a faster surface so the Richard Phillips-trained gelding may be best watched. The David Nicholls-trained Incursion has slipped to a fair mark but is better over further, while Transvestite has yet to prove that he stays this far under these conditions. Nero's Return finished in front of the selection at Ascot last time and there should not be a great deal to choose between the two today. Croon may well be better suited by the underfoot conditions though and he is preferred.
Formwatch
Swordsman (GER) 10-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led briefly over 7f out, stayed with leader until over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 15l behind Dorothy's Friend (9-3) at Ascot 2m hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Transvestite (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Held up well in rear, steady headway on outside over 3f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, soon strongly pressed and headed near finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Ariodante (8-6) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) frm.
Croon 9-1 (8-6) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 2f out, no extra over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 3l behind Young Mick (9-5) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Jul.
Nero's Return (IRE) 15-2 (8-11) Held up, headway to chase leaders 3f out, ridden and not pace to challenge over 1f out, kept on, 5th of 10, 4l behind Young Mick (9-13) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Mr Aitch (IRE) 4-1 (9-12) Held up, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra well inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Oddsmaker (9-4) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Great View (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 10l behind Fort Churchill (8-12) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jul.
King's Thought 14-1 (9-7) Led, headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 6l behind Strawberry Lolly (8-8) at Kempton 1m 2f app hcp (4) pol.
Spinning Coin 9-1 (9-12) Mid-division, ridden and effort over 3f out, one pace, 4th of 9, 8l behind Trick Or Treat (9-1) at Salisbury 1m 4f fll hcp (4) gs.
Incursion 11-1 (9-9) Prominent, effort 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Rationale (9-5) at Bath 1m 4f ldy rds hcp (3) gf.
Beltane 100-1 (8-2) Always behind, last of 8, 16l behind Pintle (9-3) at Warwick 1m hcp 0-85 (4) frm in Jun.
Prime Number (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 5l behind Zaafran (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.