Racecards
14:20 Huntingdon
Macer Gifford Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form P7866-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Keevil
- Jockey Ian Popham
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4th, mistake 7th, under pressure 9th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
- Form 74233-4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked leaders, led after 3 out, drew clear after next, ran on well (the last fence was omitted)
- Form F32F-P3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer David Dennis
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, stayed on after next, went second closing stages, no chance with winner
- Form 1413-54
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer M R Bosley
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
behind when fell 3rd
- Form 53153S
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Brendan Powell
led until approaching 2nd, led again 4th, headed after 3 out, weakened next
- Form 2-2F725
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
mid-division, headway 6th, chased leaders next, slow 3 out, gradually weakened after next
- Form 8/9P-P5
- Age 4
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakening when unseated rider 2 out
- Form 941233-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 90
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 4F/3P23-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey G Sheehan
tracked leader, led approaching 2nd, jumped left throughout, headed 4th, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up before last
- Form 6-53P63
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey T E Whelan
chased leaders, lost place after 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
Verdict
Julie Prince was in second when slipping up on the flat at Ludlow 10 days ago. He could go well here if that mishap hasn't had a lasting effect. Benny The Swinger, another course and distance winner, may also figure if in the mood while Outback ran well for a long way when a big outsider at Fakenham last week. Bobby Dove won over track and trip in January but ZEN FACTOR can race off the same mark as when a close-up third here in March and has won off a much higher rating here over hurdles. He can shrug off an absence to land this though none of the others can be ruled out in an open race.
Formwatch
Strawberry Hill (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, went 4th 2 out, went 3rd at last, one pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Pinkneys Prince (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct.
Gandalfe (FR) 13-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, left 4th 4 out, staying on same pace and held when blundered last, 4th of 8, 10l behind Brody Bleu (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Un Anjou (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, blundered badly 8th, plugged on to modest 3rd after 3 out, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Next Sensation (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct.
Topthorn 8-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden next, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 19l behind Alwaystheoptimist (11-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Jun.
Julie Prince (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Led until 3rd, led 6th until 8th, pressing leader when slipped up on bend after 9th, in a race won by Drumlang (11-7) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Benny The Swinger (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) In touch, pushed along and well held in 3rd when went right 2 out, lost 3rd at the last, 5th of 13, 19l behind Just When (11-7) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Oct.
Troufion (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, took keen hold, headway 6th, every chance 3 out, beaten when not fluent next, 5th of 10, 15l behind Premier Portrait (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Oct.
Bobby Dove 2-1 (10-7) In rear, reminder after 9th, one pace and no impression when not fluent 4 out, let modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Miss Tenacious (11-10) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Zen Factor 11-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 2nd, challenged 2 out, pressed leader last, hampered run-in, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Chilbury Hill (10-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar.
Outback (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led 10th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Midnight Charmer (10-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.