Racecards
14:55 Newmarket
Chris Blackwell Memorial Handicap (Class 2)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £19,000 added
- Winner: £12,291
- 2nd: £3,658
- 3rd: £1,828
- 4th: £914
- Form 7/11-0U7
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 102
slowly away, always in rear, ridden over 3f out
- Form 5-62094
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
keen tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, headed near finish
- Form 516218
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey William Twiston-Davies
tracked leaders, ridden and headway entering final furlong, edged left and not quicken near finish
- Form 0-11097
- Age 7
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
in rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on towards finish, never on terms
- Form 623740
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 95
led and soon pushed along, ridden over 3f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 923541
- Age 7
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey Shelley Birkett
keen in touch, headway between horses entering final furlong, ran on to lead near finish
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
VALIDUS hasn't progressed as expected but may be up to winning off his current mark before the end of the season. A four-length defeat behind Mont Ras at York in August reads well enough in this company and doubts surround his chief rivals. Recent course and distance winner Mabait steps up a grade while Intrigo remains 8lb higher than when scoring at Doncaster in June. Directorship looks in the handicapper's grip now so Mister Music is a bigger danger on his earlier conditions race victory at Bath. Fort Bastion has a shout on last year's best form but Jodies Jem was engaged to run at Ascot yesterday.
Formwatch
Fort Bastion (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Raced centre tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 6l behind Tawhid (8-13) at Newbury 7f Listed stks 3yo (1) sft in Sep.
Validus 16-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, never troubled leaders, 4th of 7, 6l behind Penitent (9-4) at Sandown 1m Listed stks 3yo (1) hvy in Sep.
Mister Music 25-1 (9-0) In rear, never a factor, 8th of 9, 35l behind Grandeur (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.
Directorship 9-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, plugged on inside final furlong, no threat, 7th of 10, 7l behind Nine Realms (9-8) at Ascot 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Aug.
Trail Blaze (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Chased leaders center, ridden and merged with stand side group over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 18th of 27, 13l behind Ancient Cross (9-10) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Intrigo 7-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind Breden (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Aug.
Mabait 5-1 (8-9) Held up, progress 3f out, headway approaching final furlong, pushed along and ran on to lead final strides, won at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Sep beating Uppercut (9-0) by hd, 8 ran.
Sandagiyr (FR) 9-1 (9-12) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Short Squeeze (8-11) at Haydock 1m hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep.
Jodies Jem 25-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden when switched right over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Tobacco Road (8-12) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Sep.