Racecards
14:25 York
Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Class 2)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 1m 5f 188y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £125,000 added
- Winner: £77,812
- 2nd: £23,300
- 3rd: £11,650
- 4th: £5,825
- Form 3-11684
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer Tom Dascombe
- Jockey R Kingscote
mid-division on outside, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish
- Form 221713
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey S De Sousa
slowly into stride, recovered and soon chasing leading pair, ridden and weakened 2f out
- Form 2-23122
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Jim Crowley
held up towards rear, headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
- Form 4171
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Jason Watson
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, hung right and one pace under pressure over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
- Form 3-13152
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
soon tracking leader, led going well over 2f out, stayed on well, ridden out
- Form 64-1721
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey D Tudhope
led, ridden and headed 2f out, chased winner until final 100 yards, no extra and lost 3rd towards finish
- Form 500722
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey P Hanagan
tracked leaders in 5th, pushed along 4f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
Polish
24- Form 6128
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey David Probert
towards rear, behind and struggling 4f out, kept on final furlong, no threat
- Form 419333
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey P J McDonald
mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 4f out, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after
- Form 601371
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Andrew Breslin
held up in last pair, never involved
Supernova
44- Form 53-11
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey J P Spencer
steadied start, held up last, headway and plenty to do when not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, went 2nd final 100 yards, stayed on, not reach winner
- Form 671226
- Age 3
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey B A Curtis
always towards rear
Coolongolook
21- Form 32-3031
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey George Wood
in touch in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 25-2731
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J Ryan
- Jockey K T O'Neill
always towards rear
- Form 0-15235
- Age 3
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey A Mullen
held up in 6th on inside, headway chasing leaders 5f out, weakened 2f out
- Form 161
- Age 3
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey Liam Jones
towards rear, headway on outside and hung left over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never enough pace to threaten
Verdict
Always a cracking contest with much dependent upon how many of these progressive handicappers are improved by or relish the step-up to 1m6f. The likes of the ultra-consistent Corgi, who deserves a big handicap success, Berkshire Blue from the in-form Balding yard and hat-trick seeking Supernova all fall into that category in what promises to be a fascinating affair. Ultimately it may be worth going along with MAKING MIRACLES who has no stamina questions to answer and should appreciate the return to this trip over which he was so impressive when making all on similar ground at Haydock last month. Mekong, another confirmed stayer, should be pitching in at the business end for the Stoute team, with Ghostwatch and Blue Laureate just two others of interest in such a competitive affair.
Formwatch
Proschema (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Soto Sizzler (8-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Making Miracles 4-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, strong challenge from over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Soto Sizzler (8-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Corgi 5-2fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, effort over 3f out, led over 2f out, driven and edged right over 1f out, stayed on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Soto Sizzler (8-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Berkshire Blue (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Prominent, lost place over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, wandered, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Blue Laureate (9-5) by hd, 10 ran.
Ghostwatch (IRE) 10-11fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 10f out, ridden and edged right over 2f out and over 1f out, held by winner final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Jackfinbar (9-7) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (3) gf in Jul.
Mekong 3-1cfav (9-0) Pressed leader going well, led well over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Aug beating Rude Awakening (9-2) by nk, 7 ran.
Blue Laureate 12-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 10, hd behind Berkshire Blue (9-10) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Polish 8-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, pushed along over 3f out, gradually weakened, 8th of 10, 8 3/4l behind Soto Sizzler (8-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Lucky Deal 4-1 (8-13) 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Island Brave (9-13) at Nottingham 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Shuhood (IRE) 3-1fav (9-7) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on under pressure to lead last strides, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Indomeneo (9-6) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Supernova 4-6fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon held up in 4th, ridden 4f out, effort over 3f out, led narrowly over 1f out, hung left, stayed on, clear towards finish, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Jul beating Past Master (9-6) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Sergio Leone (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Always close up, every chance 2f out, beaten when not much room 1f out, 6th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Berkshire Blue (9-10) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Coolongolook 5-4fav (9-7) Steadied start, took keen hold in last, pushed along 3f out, soon ridden, switched left and effort over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, carried left inside final furlong, led towards finish, stayed on, won at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Ad Libitum (9-6) by hd, 3 ran.
Midnight Wilde 13-2 (8-13) In touch in rear, headway on outer approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish, won at Chester 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating King Lud (9-1) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Candidate (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten, 5th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Desert Path (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 3f hcp (3) gf in Aug.
Heart Of Grace (JPN) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leader 2f, handy 3rd, pushed along on downhill run, ridden and went 2nd again entering final furlong, stayed on to lead close home, cosily, won at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (5) gf in Jul beating Volcanic Sky (8-12) by nk, 4 ran.