Racecards
16:10 Lingfield Park
Bet Melbourne Cup - Betdaq Handicap (Class 5)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £4,000 added
- Form 26-315P
- Age 8
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Miss Jo Crowley
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
held up in last trio, headway on inside well over 1f out, plugged on
- Form 626261
- Age 6
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer K A Morgan
- Jockey P Cosgrave
slowly away, held up in rear, headway on outside to track leading pair 2f out, chased winner final furlong, carried slightly right, no impression final 100 yards
- Form 516433
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer Mat Salaman
- Jockey L P Keniry
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 342582
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer A J Lidderdale
- Jockey Hayley Turner
tracked leading pair, pushed along 4f out, driven 3f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, tailed off
- Form 252741
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer W J Knight
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, in command final 100 yards
- Form 454374
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer G Prodromou
- Jockey Saleem Golam
slowly away, soon pushed along in last pair, headway on outside over 3f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never in contention
- Form 951250
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey J Quinn
took keen hold, held up in 4th place, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, kept on to press for 2nd, no chance with winner
Verdict
GROSS PROPHET is narrowly preferred over Miss Sophisticat and the in-form Merrymadcap in a tough end to the card. Merrymadcap is likely to be a standing dish on the all-weather circuit and can usually be relied upon to win in his turn. However, like a number of contenders on show today, he seems to prefer Wolverhampton, so any large stakes may be best reserved until he next races in the Midlands area. Miss Sophisticat rallied well for Jim Crowley to emerge victorious at Windsor 13 days ago. However, it's worth bearing in mind that was the filly's first taste of success and, as it came at the fifteenth attempt, she hardly leaps from the page as a certainty to follow up. Therefore, it can also pay to take a chance with Gross Prophet, who has a more proven record and, as he is on a winning mark; the mount of Hayley Turner has the right credentials to give us a good run for the money here.
Formwatch
Trifti 7-2fav (9-3) Always behind, well behind when pulled up and dismounted inside final furlong, bled from nose, in a race won by Goose Green (7-13) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in May, 13 ran.
Cry Alot Boy 11-1 (9-4) Slowly away, in rear and keen, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Jul beating Nbhan (9-0) by 2l, 9 ran.
Merrymadcap (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, soon lost 2nd, kept on well to hold well held 3rd, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Rowan Tiger (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Gross Prophet 16-1 (9-6) In touch on inside, headway on inner over 1f out, ridden, kept on to 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Tanfidh (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Miss Sophisticat 14-1 (9-2) Pressed leader, driven to challenge from 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, driven and kept on well, won at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Oct beating Bosamcliff (8-4) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Nassar (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Nevada Desert (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct.
My Girl Jode 9-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, led 8f out, headed over 3f out, weakened quickly, 15th of 16, 43l behind Aine's Delight (8-6) at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Oct.
Izzi Mill (USA) 9-1 (9-2) Keen hold in touch, weakened 2f out, eased when no chance final furlong, 8th of 12, 10l behind Efisio Princess (8-5) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Oct.