Racecards
13:20 Leicester
Sir Gordon Richards Handicap (Class 2)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 179y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £18,903
- 2nd: £5,658
- 3rd: £2,829
- 4th: £1,416
- Form 214400
- Age 6
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey Jim Crowley
slowly into stride, always behind
- Form 30-2140
- Age 6
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 105
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on well, never able to challenge
- Form 602637
- Age 5
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey George Wood
in touch, under pressure over 2f out, no impression
- Form 61/6853-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer D M Simcock
- Jockey Fran Berry
held up towards rear, never dangerous
- Form 2212-25
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey K Shoemark
held up in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 171-362
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer M P Tregoning
- Jockey Tyler Saunders
chased leaders, led well over 1f out, driven clear entering final furlong, readily
- Form 230504
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer W J Knight
- Jockey Callum Shepherd
raced wide early, joined pack and led after 2f, driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra closing stages
- Form 912446
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer S Kirk
- Jockey Mitch Godwin
led 2f, remained prominent, effort 2f out, soon edged right, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 014715
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer M D I Usher
- Jockey Nicola Currie
in touch in mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Verdict
Top Tug wouldn’t want anymore cut in the ground but Arthenus will handle the going and drops back down into handicap company for the first time this year having placed in Listed events earlier. Rock Steady was placed in decent handicaps on the all-weather last winter but hasn’t raced since February while Gawdawpalin won at Ascot during the summer and finished ahead of DANCE THE DREAM (NAP) at Newbury last month. But the latter was returning from a lay-off on that occasion and a subsequent second over track and trip suggests she can go very close today with an apprentice taking 7lb off her back.
Formwatch
Master The World (IRE) 28-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway and plugged on inside final furlong, no threat, 12th of 20, 8 1/2l behind Lord Glitters (9-3) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Top Tug (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Mid-division on inside, driven to chase leaders when not much room over 2f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out, 14th of 19, 23 1/2l behind Nakeeta (9-5) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Arthenus 25-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden 2f out, headway over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Danehill Kodiac (9-2) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Captain Morley 15-8fav (11-2) Held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 9, 25l behind Hallings Comet (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Rock Steady (IRE) 5-2 (8-13) Held up in last pair, pushed along and unable to quicken as pace lifted 2f out, not much room and squeezed through over 1f out, disputing 4th and kept on one pace inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 5th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Watersmeet (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (2) pol in Feb.
Dance The Dream 13-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders on outside, took keen hold, went 2nd over 10f out, led narrowly over 1f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Blakeney Point (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Noble Gift 4-1cfav (9-4) Soon led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/4l behind Petite Jack (9-5) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Gawdawpalin (IRE) 9-2 (9-12) Held up, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 7, 15 3/4l behind Moabit (8-10) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Marmajuke Bay 12-1 (9-8) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, switched left over 2f out, never looked liked getting on terms, 5th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Torcello (8-9) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gs in Sep.