Racecards
21:20 Wolverhampton
freebets.co.uk Grand National 2011 Best Free Bets Handicap (Class 6)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 50y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £2,500 added
- Winner: £1,706
- 2nd: £504
- 3rd: £252
Sure Fire (GER)
369- Form 63/466-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer B Curley
- Jockey T P Queally
dwelt, held up towards rear, headway over 6f out to go mid-division, ridden and lost place over 3f out
Graycliffe (IRE)
606- Form 173805/
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 53
- Trainer P Morris
- Jockey Stephen Craine
tracked leaders, lost place over 3f out, not much room on inner over 2f out, headway over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong
- Form 98344-3
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer D Shaw
- Jockey R Fitzpatrick
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, pressed inside final, kept on gamely towards finish
- Form 021444
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey S W Kelly
towards rear, headway over 5f out to chase leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 353-757
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer A Middleton
- Jockey L P Keniry
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, strong challenge and edged left when tried to bite rival horse well inside final furlong, reluntant to lead near finish
- Form 893085
- Age 8
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 47
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey Josh Baudains
tracked leaders in 3rd, took keen hold, ridden and weakened over 1f out
- Form 78-9553
- Age 7
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey Sophie Doyle
held up towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never dangerous
- Form 0/0-0355
- Age 9
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer S A Harris
- Jockey Simon Pearce
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 359745
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer W M Brisbourne
- Jockey Liam Jones
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out on outer, kept on same pace
In depth
Verdict
With only one win to his name, BLACKSTONE VEGAS can only be a tentative choice but he gets another chance here after just failing to catch Broughtons Paradis over C&D last week. Laura Land finished a couple of lengths behind him on that occasion and re-opposes on the same terms, while Mary Helen was further back in fifth-place. Sure Fire has claims on last year's best form but is returning from a lengthy lay-off and it's hard to make a serious case for any of the remainder.
Formwatch
Sure Fire (GER) 11-2 (9-1) Alwys behind, driven over 5f out, soon beaten, 6th of 11, 15l behind Khun John (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Apr '10.
Graycliffe (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 10l behind Birkside (10-0) at Musselburgh 1m 4f clm stks (5) gd in Aug '09.
Blackstone Vegas 9-2fav (9-2) Led, headed 9f out, tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Broughtons Paradis (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Laura Land 9-2fav (9-3) Held up in rear, headway on outside 6f out, ridden and pressing leaders 2f out, unable to quicken 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Broughtons Paradis (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Filun 8-1 (9-2) Bumped start, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, going well when attemped to challenge between rivals when got badly squeezed out and hampered inside final furlong, not recover, soon eased, 7th of 12, 6l behind Barbirolli (8-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Mar.
Escardo (GER) 66-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden 3f out, kept on, not trouble leaders, 5th of 8, 7l behind Stand Guard (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol in Mar.
Naledi 22-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Grey Boy (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Mar.
Moment of Clarity 12-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, soon in touch in mid-division, ridden and stayed on same pace from well over 1f out, 5th of 11, 7l behind Lilli Palmer (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Mar.
Mary Helen 6-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Broughtons Paradis (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Sunset Boulevard (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Mid-division, travelling well 3f out, nowhere to go on inside from over 1f out until switched left and strong run inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Noah Jameel (8-6) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.