Racecards
18:00 Leicester
Strongbow Bitter Sweet Classic Handicap (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 5f 218y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £7,250 added
- Winner: £4,690
- 2nd: £1,396
- 3rd: £697
- 4th: £349
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer E De Giles
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey Jason Hart
in touch, ridden over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on and held towards finish
- Form 042423
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer H Candy
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
tracked leaders, ridden and no extra inside final furlong
- Form 231-420
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer E S McMahon
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
led and keen, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 4-96477
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer R Harris
- Jockey B A Curtis
tracked leaders and in touch, headway to lead over 1f out, kept on and edged right inside final furlong
- Form 0-22841
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer R Harris
- Jockey William Twiston-Davies
Nonrunner
Verdict
It's difficult to judge the relative merits of the two easy maiden winners. Neither Shingle nor RIDGE RANGER beat anything of note when dotting up on their racecourse debuts but the latter is just preferred, racing off a lower mark for her handicap debut. Fantasy Justifier easily beat Pensax Lad when scoring at Haydock last time and is only 4lb higher, while Faure Island can also be given a chance on last month's second over course and distance.
Formwatch
Shingle 3-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f fout, quickened clear final furlong, impressive, won at Ffos Las 6f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Jul beating Go Charlie (9-5) by 8l, 4 ran.
Ridge Ranger (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, behind and outpaced, headway 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, soon ridden, led and edged left inside final furlong, kept on, won at Hamilton 6f mdn stks (5) gd beating Cagoule (9-5) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Faure Island 2-1fav (9-4) Raced wide close up, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Le Laitier (9-0) at Pontefract 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Three Pips 14-1 (9-6) Chased leaders in 4th, weakened 2f out, last of 10, 21l behind Dont Have It Then (8-11) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.
Pensax Lad (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Held up, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 7th of 10, 6l behind Fantasy Justifier (9-6) at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Fantasy Justifier (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, challenged inside final furlong, led final 75 yards, hard pressed, held on, won at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gs beating Shades of Silk (9-1) by shd, 10 ran.
Kodafine (IRE) 3-1 (8-4) Reared start, soon chasing leaders, pushed along and outpaced halfway, ridden well over 1f out, weakened soon after, last of 4, 4l behind Searchlight (9-7) at Bath 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) fm.