Racecards
15:00 Lingfield Park
Valerie Gilroy Birthday Handicap (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £7,500 added
- Form 797854
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 81
always behind
- Form 303822
- Age 9
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
tailed off mid-division, switched right and headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
- Form 813713
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer W J Knight
- Jockey P Doe
held up towards rear, headway 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
- Form 008573
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey G Baker
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 470285
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey R Havlin
held up in touch, ridden and kept on approaching final furlong
- Form 003456
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
steadied start, held up in rear, short of room over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to take 2nd close home
- Form 000552
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 76
pulled hard, tracked winner, ridden to challenge over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 140612
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 75
made all, challenged from over 1f out, stayed on well
- Form 808407
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer D J Murphy
- Jockey Greg Fairley
mid-division, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 033433
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer C E Brittain
- Jockey Hayley Turner
soon tracking winner, hard driven and effort over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
China Cherub, Texas Gold and Financial Times are the most likely winners of this sprint and we are with the first named. China Cherub is not without a couple of question marks over today's trip but if this is a true run race, she has plenty of credible form to her name and can make it count. Sprinter, Texas Gold is potentially still well in with relation to his older form but he does not win as often as he should. Financial Times has been in fine form against lesser opposition and will now attempt to graduate over a furlong further today. Hold up performer, Titan Triumph can be expected to finish with his usual gusto. It is nevertheless surprising that connections have opted to drop him in trip. Halsion Chancer still looks progressive and is entitled to respect. Happy As Larry has ran lamentably of late and is tried again over this shorter trip. Sand Cat had plenty of experience at the Dubai carnival and is from a yard that are able to get the best from others' castoffs. Bazroy is best of the rest. A good race and China Cherub gets the call.
Formwatch
China Cherub 12-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 10, 1l behind Lucayos (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Texas Gold 9-1 (8-13) Prominent, effort on inner over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Ebraam (8-9) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Titan Triumph 9-4fav (9-1) Held up in rear, ridden 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Councellor (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Sand Cat 11-1 (8-12) Behind, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, always held, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Distinctly Game (8-9) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Russian Symphony (USA) 15-2 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 13, 3l behind Curtail (9-3) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Bazroy (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 9, 9l behind Everymanforhimself (9-4) at Leicester 6f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Sept.
Coleorton Dancer 2-1fav (9-1) Chased leaders, edged left over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Carcinetto (9-0) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Halsion Chancer 9-4fav (9-2) Held up, good headway on inside over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, caught close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Financial Times (9-4) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Happy as Larry (USA) 25-1 (8-12) In rear, headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 3l behind Lucayos (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Best One 12-1 (8-13) Raced stands side, with leader, led 3f out to over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 6l behind The Fifth Member (8-12) at Folkestone 7f hcp 0-75 (5) hvy in Oct.
Financial Times (USA) 11-4 (9-4) Started slowly, towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, led close home, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Halsion Chancer (9-2) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
George The Second 16-1 (8-6) Pressed leaders to over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 8l behind Distinctly Game (8-9) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.