Racecards
16:40 Stratford
Firs Garage Hook Norton Mitsubishi Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m 3f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,165
- 2nd: £935
- 3rd: £468
- 4th: £234

- Form 03/800-P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
tracked leaders in 4th, challenged and every chance 2 out, ridden and held before last, kept on same pace

- Form F-51211
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey M G Nolan
held up towards rear, weakened before 2 out, tailed off

- Form 2P-2415
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alex Merriam
led, took keen hold, headed 10th, soo ridden and weakened, tailed off

- Form 540-354
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leader, reminders after 9th, led 10th, ridden and pressed from 2 out, clear before last, kept on well

- Form 6/145-24
- Age 10
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D A Rees
- Jockey Paul Moloney
tracked leaders, outpaced from 2 out, no impression after

- Form 479-592
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Mrs N S Evans
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in rear, headway on outer after 10th, went 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace

- Form 4448/4-P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss L Blackford
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
- Form 6/1-4432
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 110
Nonrunner
Motou (FR)
33- Form 6775-32
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Sentimentaljourney alternates between hurdles and fences and is just 2lb higher than when scoring at Ffos Las in October so must be a threat to all under the champion. SOUTHWAY STAR tackles this extreme trip for the first time and her two recent victories have been on heavy ground but she won so easily at Worcester that a hat-trick beckons and her rider's claim is a major bonus. Pairc Na Gcapall went up a massive 13lb for last month's victory at Uttoxeter and the runner-up Kitegan should get much closer on the revised terms. Minella Bliss likes a slogging match and can prove best of the remainder.
Formwatch
Monetary Fund (USA) 16-1 (10-13) In rear, weakened after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Royal Riviera (10-2) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Jun, 10 ran.
Southway Star 11-4fav (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway when mistake 3rd, challenged approaching 3 out, led before next, soon clear, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (0-105) (4) hvy in Jul beating Desolait (11-11) by 7l, 7 ran.
Pairc Na Gcapall (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, mistake 7th, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 23l behind Stormhoek (11-1) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Sentimentaljourney (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 8th, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 21l behind Bellaboosh (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jul.
Makena (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, not much room on inside after 4th, headway after 9th, hampered before 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 13, 8l behind Ocean du Moulin (10-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Minella Bliss (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, hampered before 3 out, headway soon after, stayed on flat, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Ocean du Moulin (10-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Rooftop Rainbow (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, hit 1st, some headway when not fluent 5th, given reminders, not fluent 7th, ridden and struggling when mistake 10th, behind next, tailed off when mistake 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Prime Edition (10-1) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in May, 9 ran.
Kitegen (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led after 5th, mistakes 8th and 9th, not fluent 3 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Pairc Na Gcapall (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jul.
Motou (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, headway under pressure after 4 out, chased winner next, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace in clear 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 15l behind Victor Hewgo (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jul.