Racecards
15:00 York
Read Richard Fahey's Column At sportinglife.com Handicap (Class 2)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Winner: £15,562
- 2nd: £4,660
- 3rd: £2,330
- 4th: £1,165
- Form 06-5039
- Age 8
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 100
held up in touch, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well closing stages, never able to challenge
- Form 803-876
- Age 8
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 100
mid-division, under pressure halfway, never dangerous
- Form 1660-09
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 98
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 33-1161
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 96
led, strongly challenged over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Atlantic Sun
16- Form 12-2265
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Gary Mahon
held up in touch, ridden and headway over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra closing stages
- Form 6-01326
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer M Dods
- Jockey P Mulrennan
chased leaders, switched right to challenge over 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
- Form 671804
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Tom Dascombe
- Jockey Liam Jones
tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on
- Form 21-30
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey P J Smullen
mid-division, pushed along halfway, never a factor
- Form 400792
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
tracked leader, under pressure over 2f out, lost place over 1f out
- Form 8380-05
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey G Lee
held up towards rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, ran on, never reached winner
In depth
Verdict
The presence of Predilection makes this a tough call on his first start since trailing home last of 28 in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. Something was wrong that day, although it may have been a first experience of soft ground that produced such a miserable effort. He's had a good break since and has surely more to offer after just four starts, especially with the Irish champion jockey booked for the ride. A much better run is expected but ATLANTIC SUN has been plying his trade at a higher level, beaten in contests won by the likes of Lumiere and Gabrial the last twice, and will appreciate the drop to handicap company. He houses strong claims with Gary Mahon taking off 5lb. Swift Approval, a revelation since cheekpieces were applied, and Farlow, a close sixth in the Bunbury Cup latest, also enter the argument.
Formwatch
Alfred Hutchinson 9-2 (9-2) Held up in touch, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 25 3/4l behind Mothers Finest (8-8) at Newcastle 1m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Farlow (IRE) 40-1 (9-1) Held up, towards rear, under pressure halfway, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Golden Steps (9-0) at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
That Is The Spirit 8-1 (9-12) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Felix Leiter (9-6) at York 7f hcp (2) gs in Jun.
Swift Approval (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Made all, hard driven when strongly challenged from well over 1f out, held on gamely, won at Newmarket 7f hcp (2) gf in Jul beating Suzi's Connoisseur (9-10) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Atlantic Sun 7-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Lumiere (8-12) at Newmarket 1m lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Get Knotted (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) In touch, effort when hung left over 2f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Gabrial's Kaka (8-12) at Ayr 1m hcp (2) gf in Jun.
Calder Prince (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, ridden and kept on towards finish, no impression, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Right Touch (9-5) at Chester 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Predilection (USA) 16-1 (9-5) Raced far side, mid-division until eased 2f out, last of 28, dist behind Defrocked (9-1) at Ascot 1m hcp stks (2) sft in Jun.
Free Code (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Led 2f, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, driven inside final furlong, went 2nd post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Dutch Law (9-11) at Newmarket 7f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Above The Rest (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra, 5th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Intisaab (9-5) at Ayr 6f hcp (3) gd in Jun.