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14:55 Leicester

John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap (Class 4)

  • 9 Runners
  • Distance: 5f 218y
  • Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £8,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 1m 12.12s
  • Off Time: 14:55:20
  • 9 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Danzig River (IRE)

20/1

    2
    Silk -

    Perfect Story (IRE)

    13/2

      3
      Silk -

      Diane's Choice

      6/1

        1(9)
        Silk - YELLOW, BLACK disc, BLACK sleeves, YELLOW armlets, BLACK cap

        Diane's Choice

        15 BFC
        6/1
        • Form 51123-7
        • Age 4
        • Weight 9-4
        • Official Rating 84

        close up, ridden 2f out, edged right and every chance inside final furlong, kept on

        2(4)
        Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue epaulets, Dark Blue and Orange striped sleeves, Orange cap

        Perfect Story (IRE)

        90 BFD
        13/2
        • Form 44517-2
        • Age 5
        • Weight 9-4
        • Official Rating 84

        in rear, pushed along halfway, ran on inside final furlong to take 2nd near finish

        3(1)
        Silk - Red, White hollow box, halved sleeves, White cap

        Hoh Hoh Hoh

        178 D
        4/1
        • Form 654160-
        • Age 5
        • Weight 9-4
        • Official Rating 84

        led, ridden and hung right over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong

        4(3)
        Silk - ORANGE and PURPLE (quartered), EMERALD GREEN sleeves and cap

        Canadian Danehill (IRE)

        31 p BFD
        12/1
        • Form 111314
        • Age 5
        • Weight 9-2
        • Official Rating 82

        keen, chased leaders, ridden and weakened final furlong

        5(8)
        Silk - White, Red and White striped sleeves, Black and Red check cap

        Pieter Brueghel (USA)

        31 D
        4/1
        • Form 63-2963
        • Age 8
        • Weight 9-2
        • Official Rating 82

        tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong

        7(2)
        Silk - Grey, royal blue triple diamond and sleeves, white cap, royal blue stars

        High Reach

        20 D
        4/1
        • Form 08400-4
        • Age 7
        • Weight 9-1
        • Official Rating 81

        tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong

        8(7)
        Silk - Royal Blue, Light Blue epaulets and sleeves, White cap

        Angel Sprints

        191 D
        22/1
        • Form 5/40005-
        • Age 5
        • Weight 8-11
        • Official Rating 77

        chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong

        9(6)
        Silk - White, Red sash, Red and White chevrons on sleeves, Red cap

        Paris Bell

        186 D
        10/1
        • Form 570136-
        • Age 5
        • Weight 8-10
        • Official Rating 76

        slowly into stride, headway halfway, ridden and weakened 2f out

        10(5)
        Silk - Black, Mauve triple diamond and diamond on cap

        Danzig River (IRE)

        8 D
        20/1
        • Form 80-9088
        • Age 6
        • Weight 8-4
        • Official Rating 69

        broke well, pulled hard, steadied to rear, headway and not clear run over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong

        6(10)
        NR

        Mafaheem

        63 D
        • Form 23236/0
        • Age 5
        • Weight 9-2
        • Official Rating 82

        Nonrunner

        In depth

        Verdict

        Pieter Brueghel is the pick over Perfect Story and Canadian Danehill, with High Reach also worth a mention. This looks a fairly open handicap, but Pieter Brueghel gets a tentative vote to come out on top on the strength of one or two consistent efforts in defeat this term. The Dandy Nicholls inmate has not actually won since 2005, but looked more like his old self when a close third at Southwell last month, and if he can be rousted up early by his pilot, it would come as no surprise if he were to make all. In contrast, Perfect Story produces his best efforts when held up, and has not been out since January. He may have benefited from the break, but is perhaps best watched unless the market speaks strongly in his favour. Canadian Danehill was a place behind Pieter Brueghel at Southwell and looks held at the weights, but High Reach is well treated compared to last year and will be sharper for his recent reappearance at Musselburgh. Any of those mentioned could prevail, with preference for Pieter Brueghel.

        Formwatch

        Diane's Choice 7-2fav (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 3l behind Forest Dane (8-7) at Folkestone 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.

        Perfect Story (IRE) 11-4fav (9-2) Went left start, towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, no real impression, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Distinctly Game (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.

        Hoh Hoh Hoh 13-2 (8-12) Chased leader, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 9l behind Saviours Spirit (9-0) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Nov.

        Canadian Danehill (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Egyptian Lord (8-6) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar.

        Pieter Brueghel (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Slightly bumped start, held up, pushed along after 2f and outpaced, ridden halfway, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Egyptian Lord (8-6) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar.

        High Reach 6-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden halfway, switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Geojimali (8-10) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.

        Paris Bell 12-1 (9-1) Dwelt, towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 6th of 14, 5l behind Countdown (8-13) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.

        Mafaheem 50-1 (8-6) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon in rear, last of 13, 19l behind Wavertree Warrior (8-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Feb.