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16:50 Folkestone

Stowting Apprentice Handicap (Class F)

  • 9 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 4f
  • Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 52.41s
  • 9 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Madhahir (IRE)

12/1

    2
    Silk -

    Man The Gate

    3/1

      3
      Silk -

      Miss Koen (IRE)

      11/1

        1(7)
        Silk - Red, White stars, Royal Blue and White striped sleeves, Royal Blue cap

        Environment Audit

        56
        16/1
        • Form 100/0-00
        • Age 5
        • Weight 10-0

        behind, pushed along halfway, one pace and no impression final 3f

        2(6)
        Silk - Maroon and Beige (quartered), Maroon sleeves, Beige stars

        Golden Dual

        7 v
        11/2
        • Form 060002
        • Age 4
        • Weight 9-2

        chased leaders until weakened rapidly 5f out, tailed off

        3(5)
        Silk - Purple, Yellow hoop, chevrons on sleeves, Purple cap, Yellow star

        Val de Fleurie (GER)

        192
        5/1
        • Form 003014-
        • Age 9
        • Weight 9-2

        pressed winner to over 2f out, soon no extra

        4(9)
        Silk - Dark Green, Red epaulets and sleeves

        Madhahir (IRE)

        22
        12/1
        • Form 0620-00
        • Age 4
        • Weight 9-0

        made most, hard driven and kept on under pressure final 3f, held on gamely when pressed inside final furlong

        5(3)
        Silk - Dark Blue and White stripes, Yellow sleeves, Dark Blue and Yellow hooped cap

        Man The Gate

        101
        3/1
        • Form 005300-
        • Age 5
        • Weight 8-13

        held up in rear, steady headway from 4f out, effort to press winner and every chance inside final furlong, held near finish

        6(1)
        Silk - ROYAL BLUE, LIGHT BLUE stars, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, WHITE cap

        Miss Koen (IRE)

        11
        11/1
        • Form 60-6310
        • Age 5
        • Weight 8-13

        dwelt, held up in rear, smooth headway from 4f out, joined winner 2f out, lost 2nd and weakened inside final furlong

        7(2)
        Silk - White, Maroon epaulets, halved sleeves, Maroon cap, White diamond

        Gemi Bed (FR)

        22 b
        9/2
        • Form 153-615
        • Age 9
        • Weight 8-7

        in touch, hard ridden 2f out, soon one pace and no impression leader

        8(8)
        Silk - Emerald Green and Yellow check, Emerald Green sleeves

        Tragic Dancer

        652
        9/1
        • Form 000400/
        • Age 8
        • Weight 8-5

        close up until outpaced final 3f

        9(4)
        Silk - Yellow, Black hoops, stars on sleeves, quartered cap

        Galandora

        162
        20/1
        • Form 506300-
        • Age 4
        • Weight 8-1

        took keen hold in touch, pushed along halfway, kept on same pace final 2f

        In depth

        Verdict

        In the apprentice handicap, Gemi Bed gets the vote ahead of Val de Fleurie, Man The Gate and Miss Koen. The selection won this race last year from a ten-pound lower mark but she seemed to improve again on the all-weather over the winter and, with a good apprentice rider booked, he looks worth taking a chance on. Val de Fleurie won six times in Germany in 1997-1999 before coming to England, where he has so far won eight hurdle races. Also, last August, he won a similar race to today's from a mark of 55. He is now rated 58 but still looks set to play a leading part in this race. Man The Gate can be given chances based on his all-weather form and he certainly has a very good apprentice booked for the ride. Miss Koen also improved on the all-weather during the winter and has chances if transferring that form back to Turf. Of the others, Environment Friend looks well-treated on the best of his 2002 form but has really gone off the boil lately. Formerly with Andrew Balding, Golden Dual is bred to be a lot better than he has so far shown. However, a first-time visor brought about some improvement last time on the all-weather and, if it works again, he could go well. Galandora has the odd bit of form, while Tragic Dancer has a good chance based on his 1999 form but was returning from a long absence when running fairly respectably over hurdles last time. Overall, though, we'll take Gemi Bed to land the race again.