Racecards
20:15 Chester
Growhow Handicap (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 75y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- £8,500 added
- Form 0690-95
- Age 6
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 86
quickly away, raced keenly, set moderate pace, quickened 2f out, headed over 1f out, not pace of winner, lost 2nd close home
- Form 335-203
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
held up in last pair, raced keenly, pushed along when pace quickened 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not able to challenge
Full Speed (GER)
227- Form 321574-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey R Winston
tracked leaders, raced keenly, went 2nd after 2f, led over 1f out, ran on well
- Form 0/10716-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Robinson
held up in last pair, improved 3f out, outpaced over 1f out
- Form 04361
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 67
raced keenly, tracked leader 2f, prominent, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner
- Form 44-2136
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 82
Nonrunner
Verdict
I'M IN THE PINK lived up to his name last time out at Haydock and can score again, with the main rivals likely to be Rosbay and Safari Journey. David Evans' gelding is lightly raced for a five year old, and seems to get better with every run. He's got plenty in hand at the weights on all the others, bar Safari Journey, and any further improvement could reap dividends. Rosbay is the only course and distance winner in the field, but that success was two years ago and in heavy ground, since when he's nought from 20. He's usually prominent though and regularly placed, but just finds one or two too good, and is still rated a pound higher than when last successful. Safari Journey is an interesting runner from Phillip Hobbs' yard. He's been hurdling and makes his flat debut here, having previously been successful in France. Heroes is another dual code horse. A winnert on his return to the flat last time out in a Brighton claimer, this could be too big a jump up in standard, but it's a long way for Tim Vaughan to bring his only runner on the card just for a try out. Market support should be noted, but our preference is for I'm In The Pink.
Formwatch
Charlie Tokyo (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Towards rear, effort over 3f out, stayed on towards finish, never troubled leaders, 5th of 7, 10l behind Jack Dawkins (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in May.
Rosbay (IRE) 3-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Wind Star (9-2) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Full Speed (GER) 20-1 (8-6) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 5l behind Times Vital (8-5) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (3) gd in Oct.
Safari Journey (USA) 12-1 (9-5) 6th of 10, 5l behind Kipling (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f stk gd in Jun '08.
I'm In The Pink (FR) 7-2 (10-5) In touch, ridden 3f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Haydock 1m 2f (5) gs in May beating Dream Of Olwyn (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Jabal Tariq 13-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, challenged 3f out, briefly short of room entering final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Mystery Star (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Special Reserve (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Held up behind, travelling well when not clear run over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never a threat, 6th of 13, 7l behind Red Merlin (8-13) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Heroes 4-1 (9-5) Held up, headway 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, pushed clear, comfortably, won at Brighton 1m clm stks (6) gd in May beating Mick Is Back (8-11) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.