Racecards
14:10 Salisbury
Alan Blencowe Motor Racing Handicap
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 198y
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 4005-48
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer Mrs A J Hamilton-Fairley
- Jockey J Quinn
tracked leaders until weakened 2f out
The Player
29- Form 441/0-75
- Age 6
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey J Fortune
pulled hard, soon in mid-division, driven along and no impression over 2f out
- Form 503D0-0
- Age 4
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 67
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, tracked leaders over 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 41-2438
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer J R Best
- Jockey S Hitchcott
soon led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 202570
- Age 5
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 66
held up in rear, pushed along halfway, no headway final 2f
- Form 3-93645
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 65
held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, no headway final 2f
- Form 820-643
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer P D Cundell
- Jockey S Whitworth
held up in rear, ridden and headway on wide outside over 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, just failed
- Form 0-737
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer C A Cyzer
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
mid-division, pushed along 4f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong
- Form 28-5606
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey S J Drowne
tracker leaders, hard ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, beaten when hampered just inside final furlong
- Form 31750-7
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 61
ridden in rear 4f out, never a factor
Aoninch
16- Form 059-623
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer Mrs P N Dutfield
- Jockey R Havlin
held up in rear, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, chased winner briefly inside final furlong, outpaced towards finish
- Form 142132
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey L Dettori
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, led over 1f out, edged right, just held on all out
- Form 2740-86
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer J G M O'Shea
- Jockey R Kingscote
Withdrawn
In depth
Verdict
Michaels Pride ran well against older horses at Hamilton last time on unsuitably soft ground and is taken to go one better on a faster surface here with Zonic Boom and Iffy rated the main dangers. It is never easy for three-year-olds against older horses at this time of year but the selection has shown that she can more than hold her own against them and, with further improvement still likely to be forthcoming, Mark Johnston's filly looks the one to be on. John Best's Otago ran well on his return to turf but disappointed last time and may be best watched now, while Karaoke is becoming expensive to follow. The handicapper has given Richard Hannon's Fuel Cell a chance and he has to be respected but a bigger threat may come from Iffy. Peter Cundell's gelding showed enough on his latest start on the level at Brighton to suggest that he can win a race of this nature. A subsequent below par effort over hurdles tempers enthusiasm for the four-year-old and of even more interest may be Zonic Boom. Heather Dalton's Goodwood winner lost no caste in defeat at Ripon last time and has to be respected but Michaels Dream looks progressive and is taken to beat her older rivals.
Formwatch
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden to chase leading pair 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 8th of 18, 13l behind Feed The Meter (9-2) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (5) gf in May.
The Player 8-1 (9-10) Keen, tracked leaders, outpaced 2f out, driven and kept on final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Silent Storm (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp (5) pol in May.
The Way We Were 18-1 (9-6) Soon close up on outer, ridden halfway, weakened rapidly, last of 11, 45l behind Go Yellow (9-9) at Folkestone 7f hcp (5) sft in Mar.
Otago (IRE) 12-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, ridden 3f out, no extra over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 13l behind Mandatum (9-5) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (5) gf.
Karaoke (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, stayed on from over 1f out, never going pace to trouble leaders, 10th of 17, 11l behind Brief Goodbye (8-13) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in May.
Fuel Cell (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Held up in mid-division, driven and not keen 2f out, no danger after, 5th of 17, 6l behind Brief Goodbye (8-13) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (5) gd in May.
Iffy 7-2 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway on outer 3f out, led well over 1f out, ridden and soon hung left, headed close home, 3rd of 8, 1/2l behind Factual Lad (10-0) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp (5) gf.
Unbridled's Dream (USA) 25-1 (9-9) In touch until weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 14l behind Prime Number (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 1f mdn stk (5) gd.
Edgehill (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Behind, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 16, 6l behind Habanero (10-0) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (5) gf.
Bluegrass Boy 16-1 (9-12) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong, 7th of 20, 10l behind True Companion (10-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f ldy rds hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Aoninch 8-1 (8-4) Started slowly, held up, headway over 2f out, stayed to take 3rd inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Mandatum (9-5) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp (5) gf.
Michaels Pride (IRE) 15-8fav (8-7) Mid-division, driven and lost place 4f out, ridden and headway 2f out, rallied final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Gallery Breeze (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) gs.
Rabitatit (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened, 6th of 8, 7l behind Gaelic Princess (9-12) at Bath 1m fll hcp (5) frm.
Zonic Boom (FR) 4-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 14, 5l behind Patxaran (10-8) at Ripon 1m 3f ldy rds hcp (5) gf.