Racecards
15:10 Leicester
Ladbrokes.com Squirrel Conditions Stakes (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 218y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £11,000 added
- Form 240401
- Age 2
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 83
held up in 3rd place, effort when hung left to chase winner 1f out, stayed on towards finish
Alcalde
26- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey R Ffrench
ran green, made all, ridden 3f out, joined and hung left from over 2f out, driven out
- Form 881
- Age 2
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Michael Hills
tracked winner, joined winner and every chance from over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Bounty Reef
13- Form 597021
- Age 2
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer P D Evans
- Jockey Hayley Turner
pulled hard, held up in last place, ridden and weakened over 2f out
Blazing Buck
27- Form 6210
- Age 2
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer H J L Dunlop
- Jockey E Ahern
Nonrunner
Verdict
ALCALDE is nominally selected ahead of Heliodor and Le Grand Amour. It was hard not to be impressed with the performance that Mark Johnston's colt produced on debut at Brighton as he ran out a very comfortable seven length winner. He may not have beaten a great deal on that occasion although the second home has since proved that she is not devoid of ability. He's from the family of Alambic so should have no problem with this trip and rain should hold no fears either given he's a son of Hernando. Heliodor has an edge in experience which may help to negate the 2lbs that he has to concede. His latest performance was the best of his season, the two to chase him home look useful and it would be dangerous to underestimate him. Le Grand Amour has a little more to prove having been found a soft race to open her account at the third attempt. She did win very easily though and proved her ability to handle testing ground which is a big plus if conditions worsen. It's difficult to envisage either of the other two landing the spoils and this can go the way of Alcalde.
Formwatch
Heliodor (USA) 6-1 (9-3) Close up, went 2nd over 1f out, switched left and shaken up entering final furlong, led final 100 yards, ran on well, eased near finish, won at Goodwood 1m 1f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sept beating Headline Act (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Alcalde 9-2 (9-3) Led, headed after 1f, stayed prominent, led again well over 1f out, pushed clear, won at Brighton 1m 2yo mdn auc (5) sft in Sept beating Timpanist (8-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
Le Grand Amour (IRE) 4-7fav (9-0) Made all, shaken up over 1f out, soon pushed clear, eased inside final furlong, won at Leicester 1m 2yo mdn (4) hvy in Sept beating Fongoli (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Bounty Reef 16-1 (8-10) Held up, headway and switched to outer over 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, won at Redcar 1m 2yo hcp (6) gs in Sept beating Aven Mac (8-6) by 2l, 20 ran.
Blazing Buck 20-1 (8-12) In touch, stand's side, ridden and one pace final 2f, 10th of 16, 12l behind Ballantrae (9-3) at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Sept.