Racecards
20:05 Folkestone
Toteexacta Handicap (Class 6)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £3,000 added
- Form 44-0932
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey L Dettori
held up, closed to lead 3f out and kicked on, headed well over 1f out, no chance with winner final 1f, kept on for clear 2nd
- Form 858-071
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey C Catlin
held up, pushed along 5f out, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led well over 1f out, in command final 1f, ridden clear, easily
- Form 7-32403
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Jim Crowley
held up, pushed along before halfway, struggling 3f out, plugged on past beaten horses final 1f
- Form 487537
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey D Holland
early reminders, held up in rear, driven on outside and progress 2f out, kept on to go modest 3rd entering final furlong
- Form 04-5078
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer G G Margarson
- Jockey A McCarthy
prominent in chasing group, weakened 3f out
- Form 00-768
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S J Drowne
chased clear leader, closed over 3f out, disputing well held 3rd 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 332934
- Age 3
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 49
- Trainer Miss J Feilden
- Jockey Matt Cosham
slowly into stride, took keen hold early, soon close up and chasing group, disputing well held 3rd 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 09-0096
- Age 3
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 42
led, well clear 9f out, still about 10l clear over 4f out, soon ridden, wandered, weakened and headed 3f out, weakened rapidly
Verdict
PERSIAN MEMORIES is unlikely to make much appeal at the prices but is hard to escape. Halfway House has claims as does Saborido. An odds-on shot took this prize last year but there have been a couple of winners returned at double carpet in the last ten runnings and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see the winner returned at a similar SP. Persian Memories has come down a long way in the weights to a mark that she's clearly competitive from and lost little in defeat behind an in-form course specialist at Windsor. She seems sure to go close. Halfway House has been raised 6lbs for a neck defeat of Vita Mia at Brighton which is a trifle harsh although the pair did finish a long way clear of the third. He is lightly raced though and has form claims. Saborido posted an improved effort in blinkers on soft ground but wouldn't be guaranteed to build on that back on fast ground whilst Gulf President was tailed off at Hamilton. Morning Calm is nicely bred so connections will be keen to secure a victory but there haven't been any signs that one is imminent so we'll go with Persian Memories.
Formwatch
Persian Memories (IRE) 11-2 (8-8) In touch, ridden 3f out, kept on to chase winner over 1f out, no chance, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Hollow Green (8-6) at Windsor 1m 4f fll hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Halfway House 11-4fav (9-3) Held up well in rear, came stands ide 3f out, headway under stand's side rail over 1f out, driven and edged left inside final furlong, led final strides, won at Brighton 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) fm in Jun beating Vita Mia (8-13) by nk, 9 ran.
Saborido (USA) 11-2 (9-7) Slowly into stride, soon prominent, went 2nd 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Proficiency (9-9) at Pontefract 1m 2f (5) sft.
Gulf President 4-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 26l behind Alicante (9-5) at Hamilton 1m 3f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd.
Count On Guest 25-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, modest effort over 2f out, not troubled leaders, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 12l behind Hip Hip Hooray (9-2) at Windsor 1m 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Morning Calm 15-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 6l behind Drop The Hammer (8-7) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Persian Tomcat (IRE) 15-2 (8-4) Held up in rear, stayed on in to modest 4th 2f out, plugged on, 4th of 7, 4l behind Vita Mia (8-9) at Folkestone 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Royal Arthur 50-1 (8-1) Chased clear leader until over 4f out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 6th of 7, 21l behind Turjuman (8-13) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.