Racecards
14:10 Stratford
John Smith's Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £4,700 added
- Winner: £3,054
- 2nd: £897
- 3rd: £448
- 4th: £224
- Form U01-0P7
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey Christian Williams
in rear, mistake 1st, pushed along after 6th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
- Form 531-33F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey D Elsworth
held up in touch, in rear from 4th, weakened before 3 out and tailed off, pulled up before last
- Form 322233-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
tracked leader, challenged 2 out, narrowly led and left clear last
- Form 5-155P2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders in 4th, led before 3 out, pressed 2 out, headed narrowly and still with every chance when fell last
- Form 3-1173P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Mr Jason Kiely
held up in touch, went poor 3rd after 2 out, left 2nd from last, no chance with winner
Zen Factor
286- Form 315/94F-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey Hadden Frost
led, headed before 3rd, tracked leaders, weakened and left poor 3rd before last
- Form 651534
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
Nonrunner
Verdict
Richard Johnson prefers Worcester second TRUE BLUE to Whatshallwedo, who ran a shocker at Uttoxeter two weeks ago, and we'll take the hint. The five-year-old has only had three starts over fences and has plenty of scope. Theodore Lamb fell at Kempton last month but is another capable of better over fences and Be Definite has only once finished out of the frame over the larger obstacles, when unseating his rider on debut at Newbury in 2009, though is still awaiting a first success. Cruchain could figure if on a going day but Bay Central was engaged to run at Haydock yesterday.
Formwatch
Cruchain (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) In rear, mistake 6th, never dangerous, 7th of 10, well behind Very Stylish (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Oct.
Theodore Lamb 16-1 (11-2) Fell 1st, in a race won by Sire De Grugy (11-2) at Kempton 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Be Definite (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, every chance when mistake 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Pepite Rose (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
True Blue (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd, ridden before 4 out, led 3 out, pressed last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Full Ov Beans (9-7) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Whatshallwedo 17-2 (10-11) Pressed for 2nd behind clear leader until 3rd, pushed along after 5th, weakened 7th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fintan (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct, 5 ran.
Zen Factor 4-1 (11-5) Prominent, led after 7th, 1 1/2 lengths ahead when fell 4 out, in a race won by Star Galaxy (11-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jan, 7 ran.
Bay Central (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, soon clear, not fluent 3rd, reduced advantage when hit 6th, headed after next, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 45l behind Fintan (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.