Racecards
17:15 Lingfield Park
Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £6,500 added
- Winner: £2,862
- 2nd: £1,344
- 3rd: £672
- 4th: £336
Viaduct
30- Form 08-6407
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer S Dixon
- Jockey Jonathan Fisher
tracked leaders, race wide early, pushed along over 3f out, kept on well final furlong but no match for winner
- Form 63/5856-
- Age 8
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Callum Hutchinson
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, kept on final furlong but never on terms
- Form 746470-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer S Hodgson
- Jockey Tom Marquand
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, wide home turn, kept on from over 1f out but never on terms
- Form 342289-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Rhys Clutterbuck
prominent, lost position over 5f out, pushed along over 2f out, went third 1f out, lost third 110 yards out
- Form 2637-61
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer J Gallagher
- Jockey Hector Crouch
held up in touch, going well over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, went third 110 yards out, never nearer
- Form 0-60111
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer W J Knight
- Jockey A Kirby
prominent, given reminder over 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out, pulled up
- Form 42768-4
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer W Muir & C Grassick
- Jockey R Kingscote
led, headed over 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, lost position over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 108-049
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 65
midfield, pushed along over 3f out, lost position over 2f out, dropped to rear over 1f out
- Form 790
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer J Tuite
- Jockey David Probert
tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, lost position 8f out, rapid headway to lead over 5f out, going well over 2f out, went clear over 1f out, ridden out
Verdict
The progressive FRENCH MINSTREL landed a hat-trick with last month’s course and distance success. He looks worth sticking with in this given Thorn was ending a long losing run when dead-heating for first here a fortnight ago and gets a change of headgear. Retrospect posted a better effort here having switched yards though winning hurdler Fleeting Visit has only scored once on the Flat so far and that was back in 2015.
Formwatch
Viaduct 50-1 (9-4) Raced keenly and tracked leaders out wide early, hampered and left in 3rd place over 5f out, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, weakened soon after, 7th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Devizes (8-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Apr.
Fleeting Visit 9-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 3 out, stumbled 2 out, driven and edged left before last, went for run up against false rail on inside towards finish, got through, bumped rival and led, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Dagueneau (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Tralee Hills 40-1 (9-10) Steadied start, behind, pushed along over 4f out, no headway, last of 14, 16 3/4l behind French Polish (9-1) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Ray's The One 4-1 (10-9) Slightly worse than midfield, some progress after 4 out, pushed in 3rd 2 out, ridden after 2 out, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 10 1/2l behind Bombyx (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Thorn 11-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, made strong challenge over 1f out, led towards finish, joined post, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Apr beating Highway One (9-0), 12 ran.
French Minstrel (IRE) 6-4jfav (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on strongly under pressure final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Apr beating Pledge Of Peace (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Retrospect (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Led, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, one pace and lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Party Island (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Sherpa Trail (USA) 150-1 (9-1) Taken to post early, slowly away, always in rear, last of 9, 13 1/2l behind Party Island (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
Alchemystique (IRE) 300-1 (9-9) Dwelt in rear, pushed along 3f out, never on terms, 10th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Lost Eden (10-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.