Racecards
21:20 Wolverhampton
Bet Cheltenham Festival - Betdaq Handicap (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £8,000 added
- Form 43-5131
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer L Montague Hall
- Jockey L Morris
slowly into stride, held up behind, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on take 3rd inside final furlong, not troubled leading pair
- Form 845880-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 79
prominent on inner, ridden along over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 218352-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 79
always behind
- Form 4-54142
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 78
raced keenly, soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed 1f out, faded towards finish
- Form 5-01153
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer A J McCabe
- Jockey James Doyle
held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not troubled leaders
- Form 123-145
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer D Haydn Jones
- Jockey T P Queally
prominent, edging left from over 1f out, chasesd winner 1f out, closed on winner near finish, just held
- Form 2/717-91
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, edged left well inside final furlong, held on well close home
- Form 50765-5
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 72
raced keen, held up, headway to chase leader over 4f out, lost 2nd well over 1f out, soon outpaced
- Form 471313
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 71
broke well, soon steadied and behind, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous from over 1f out
Verdict
A market move for the lightly raced Credit Swap, who is making his first start since October, would be of interest in this competitive handicap but this should lie between Mogok Ruby and DISTINCTLY GAME with preference for the latter, who is taken to reverse their running at Kempton last month. Kevin Ryan's gelding took advantage of a slipping handicap mark when a winner at Lingfield in January and remains well treated racing off just a 5lb higher mark today. The seven-year-old is 2lbs better in with Mogok Ruby for the half-a-length that was between them at Kempton last time and he is taken to reverse that form. Derek Shaw's Grand Palace has been in good form of late but he has paid the penalty at the hands of the handicapper, while Bahamian Lad may struggle to defy the penalty for his course and distance success last time. Alan McCabe's Cornus has been running well of late and has to be considered but he is arguably better over seven furlongs, while Danehillsundance is hard to recommend on recent form and a better bet looks to be Distinctly Game.
Formwatch
Mogok Ruby 7-2 (9-4) Steadied start, took keen hold, settled in rear, good headway on outside over 2f out, ran on well to lead final 50 yards, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating Distinctly Game (9-3) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Danehillsundance (IRE) 9-2fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 11, 8l behind My Gacho (9-5) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Credit Swap 5-1 (9-2) Reared leaving stalls, took keen hold in rear, hung badly right from over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Countdown (9-6) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Distinctly Game 3-1fav (9-3) Chased leader, quickened to lead over 1f out, kept on well until headed final 50 yards, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Mogok Ruby (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Cornus 12-1 (8-7) Started slowly, held up, ridden over 1f out, plugged on, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Mr Macattack (8-4) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Princess Valerina 6-1 (9-3) Awkward leaving stalls, soon chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon outpaced and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 6l behind Mogok Ruby (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Bahamian Lad 10-1 (8-10) Tracked leader and keen, ridden to lead over 1f out, pushed clear, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb beating Compton Classic (8-4) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Memphis Man 16-1 (8-12) Dwelt, pulled hard in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 5, 9l behind Milne Bay (8-5) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Grand Palace (IRE) 7-2 (8-9) Tracked winner, ridden half way, every chance from over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 1/2l behind Wotashirtfull (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.