Racecards
16:20 Salisbury
H S Lester Memorial Handicap (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 6f 21y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Winner: £5,175
- 2nd: £1,540
- 3rd: £770
- 4th: £385
- Form 4845-17
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
close up, pushed along 3f out, effort on outer over 2f out, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, kept on one pace, finished under stands side rail
- Form 51671-9
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey George Downing
led, pushed along over 3f out, soon headed, weakened 2f out
- Form 61-3142
- Age 9
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer M S Saunders
- Jockey M Dwyer
slowly away, recovered to rear 9f out, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, unable to quicken towards finish
- Form 1332-11
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey P J Dobbs
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
- Form 972112
- Age 7
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer J A Geake
- Jockey Philip Prince
tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 1/22-417
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey S De Sousa
in touch, ridden 3f out, effort over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
Benbecula
25- Form 45/7433-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer N R Mitchell
- Jockey Hayley Turner
chased leaders, ridden to lead 3f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on
- Form 87-5576
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey Cam Hardie
whipped round start and slowly away, behind, never on terms
- Form 60/034-1
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey S J Drowne
Nonrunner
Verdict
AIR SQUADRON got off the mark over course and distance last July and appears to be improving with age. He's both starts this year, at Chepstow and Newmarket, but might still be a step ahead of the handicapper and is taken to complete the hat-trick. Laughing Jack is likely to improve for a recent comeback but does have a bit to find with Fitzwilly on the form book. Song Light won at Nottingham but this much faster surface could be a problem while Glens Wobbly has done all of his winning at a much lower level. Sunny Future loves it here, however, and is going for a sixth course victory. The nine-year-old is high enough in the weights at present but should give supporters a run for their money again.
Formwatch
Grace And Favour 5-1 (9-2) Mid-division and keen, chased leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Trendsetter (9-1) at Chester 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Laughing Jack 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway to lead after 2f, headed over 3f out, weakened, 9th of 11, 10l behind Gavlar (8-13) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Sunny Future (IRE) 7-2 (9-2) Led after 2f, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Elysian Fields (9-7) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Air Squadron 6-4fav (8-8) Close up, hampered over 10f out, pushed along to lead over 1f out, ridden out, won at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May beating Royal Signaller (8-9) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Glens Wobbly 5-4fav (9-4) Led, soon 5 lengths clear, headed over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Dark Amber (8-1) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Fitzwilly 4-1fav (8-2) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, weakened well over 2f out, 7th of 11, 9l behind Gavlar (8-13) at Goodwood 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Benbecula 25-1 (9-11) Led, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd place inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Cinnilla (8-9) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Aug.
Cotton Club (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, no impression when pushed left over 1f out, 6th of 10, 8l behind Persona Grata (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Song Light 6-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway over 4f out, switched right over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in May beating El Massivo (8-8) by 1l, 14 ran.