Racecards
19:00 Southwell
BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 4f 214y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: AllWeather
- £15,200 added
- Winner: £8,208
- 2nd: £3,853
- 3rd: £1,927
- 4th: £964
- Form 3/34560-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey L Morris
chased leaders far side of group, pushed along halfway, weakened 2f out
May Sonic
17- Form 34073-9
- Age 7
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer C Hills
- Jockey K Shoemark
held up off the pace in last pair, headway far side of group chasing leaders over 1f out, sustained challenge inside final furlong, won in head bob
- Form 6009-37
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer S C Williams
- Jockey Rossa Ryan
slowly into stride, held up off the pace in rear, headway near side rail over 1f out, never going pace to get involved
- Form 216523-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer S & E Crisford
- Jockey Harry Burns
raced near side rail, chased leader, led over 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd
- Form 471312-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer S R Bowring
- Jockey Lewis Edmunds
chased leaders over 3f
- Form 4512-21
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer D Loughnane
- Jockey Billy Loughnane
led riderless to post, raced keenly, led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened soon after
- Form 1036-12
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer A Brittain
- Jockey Cam Hardie
chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon strongly pressed, just lost in head bob
In depth
Verdict
Vespasian drops down to the minimum trip for the first time but the front-runner will likely get taken on for the lead by KIM WEXLER (NAP). The latter made all over course and distance last week and a penalty is negated but Billy Loughnane’s allowance. Hiya Maite ended last year in fine form though is 7lb higher than when successful here last month while Murbih found the selection too good last time. Strong Johnson won five times in Ireland and debuts for a new trainer having undergone a wind operation.
Formwatch
Strong Johnson (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Prominent, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Craft Irish (9-1) at Curragh 5f hcp sft in Oct.
May Sonic 22-1 (9-9) Chased leader, ridden to challenge 2f out, every chance until over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 10l behind Kiwano (9-1) at Kempton 6f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Tolstoy (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Raced wide towards rear, weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 6l behind Annaf (9-9) at Lingfield 6f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Vespasian (IRE) 9-4fav (9-1) Disputed lead until led 4f out, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish, kept on, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Tyger Bay (8-12) at Lingfield 6f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Hiya Maite 2-1fav (9-0) Prominent near side, ridden to join leader final furlong, headed final 100 yards, kept on, grabbed 2nd close home, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Trusty Rusty (8-9) at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Kim Wexler (IRE) 9-2 (9-4) Quickly away, made all, clear inside final furlong, unchallenged, won at Southwell 5f hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Murbih (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Murbih (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Prominent, driven over 1f out, no impression on winner and edged right inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Kim Wexler (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp (5) pol in Jan.