Racecards
15:20 Newbury
John Smith's Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 6y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 811/314
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S J Drowne
soon driven along in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, headed final strides
- Form 519621
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer A Reid
- Jockey P Robinson
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace after
- Form 2-60211
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer T G Mills
- Jockey J P Spencer
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway 3f out, no impression final 2f
- Form 810232
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey K Darley
chased leaders, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, kept on
- Form 151536
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey Michael Hills
led until over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 081522
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 97
mid-division, switched right and headway 2f out, soon ridden, kept on
- Form 730091
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J F Egan
always mid-division
- Form 630400
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 91
in touch, ridden 2f out, not clear run just over 1f out, no impression after
- Form 5-21321
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 99
towards rear, hampered after 2f, headway 2f out, stayed on
- Form 48-4380
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer T G Mills
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Rehearsal
42- Form 1568-33
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer L Lungo
- Jockey Ted Durcan
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 54-3264
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey L Dettori
slowly into stride, held up behind, headway 3f out, not clear run 2f out and just over 1f out, no danger after
- Form 351201
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey J Fortune
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 4-42234
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey S W Kelly
chased leaders until weakened 2f out
- Form 111
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R Hills
slowly into stride, soon mid-division, headway and travelling well 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, no extra
- Form 031512
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer B J Meehan
- Jockey A Munro
mid-division, ridden and headway after 1f out, stayed on strongly under pressure, led final stride
- Form 094206
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey L P Keniry
mid-division until 2f out, eased
- Form 691560
- Age 8
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey R L Moore
held up, always towards rear
- Form 602112
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer N A Callaghan
- Jockey C Catlin
always towards rear
- Form 300585
- Age 7
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 92
Verdict
A smashing line-up for this valuable handicap and it can go to Eccentric, with Evaluator, Ashkal Way, Wild Savannah and Rohaani rated as his biggest dangers. . Eccentric has more than paid his way this year and showed that he still had plenty to come when winning at Group 3 level last time. He's tough, classy and dependable, and looks set to go well. Evaluator comes here on a three-timer following his fairly-valuable Goodwood win, Ashkal Way bolted up when landing a gamble at Beverley last time and an eleven-pounds ride for that might still not stop him from running well again with the talented young Chris Hayes again on board, while Rohaani is unbeaten in three runs and should continue to progress despite just a narrow win at Thirsk last time. Finally, at today's trip and with a first-time visor on, Wild Savannah looked an improved performer at Newmarket last time, and he too is respected. With many other tough and resolute performers against him, though, including Star Of Light, Impeller and Blue Monday, this will be no cakewalk, but Eccentric sets a good benchmark here and gets the vote.
Formwatch
Blue Monday 13-2 (9-9) Led early, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 16, 4l behind Notable Guest (9-8) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Eccentric 7-1 (9-0) In touch, taken far-side straight, headway to track group leader over 2f out, led and overall leader over 1f out, driven out, won at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug beating Hattan (8-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Evaluator (IRE) 7-1 (8-11) Close up, effort 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, held on well when pressed near finish, won at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Jul beating Ofaraby (8-10) by a nk, 20 ran.
Crosspeace (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Held up, headway to lead 2f out, one pace when headed final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Day Walker (8-11) at Baden-Baden 1m 2f Grp 3 gd in Aug.
Trew Class 33-1 (9-1) Tracked leader and keen, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 17l behind Mullins Bay (9-4) at York 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Impeller (IRE) 7-1 (9-6) Settled towards rear, good headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 2nd of 16, nk behind Nero's Return (8-11) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (2) gf.
Nero's Return (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Towards rear, headway on inside 2f out, strong run inside final furlong, led close home, driven out, won at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (2) gf beating Impeller (9-6) by a nk, 16 ran.
Thyolo (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Led, headed over 2f out, soon behind, 13th of 14, 17l behind Pedrillo (9-2) at York 1m 1f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Ashkal Way (IRE) 2-1fav (8-3) Held up behind leaders, smooth progress to challenge 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, kept on final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Aug beating Tarraman (8-5) by 3l, 14 ran.
Resplendent One (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Chased leaders in 4th, weakened 2f out, last of 11, 16l behind Red Spell (8-11) at Goodwood 1m hcp (2) gd in May.
Rehearsal 6-1 (8-10) Prominent, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Courageous Duke (9-0) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Torinmoor (USA) 8-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, effort and hampered over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Desert Cristal (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Wild Savannah 13-2 (9-1) Led 1f, tracked leader after, led over 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug beating Front Stage (9-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
Look Again 7-2 (9-8) Close up, ridden to chase winner 3f out until 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 5l behind Wild Savannah (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Rohaani (USA) 8-11fav (9-8) Tracked leaders going well, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, rallied to lead again near finish, won at Thirsk 1m hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Top Dirham (8-13) by a shd, 8 ran.
Star of Light 14-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, 2nd of 19, 2l behind Realism (8-6) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Prince Nureyev (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Mid-division, effort on stands' rail and close up 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 13, 5l behind Pagan Sky (9-1) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (3) sft in Aug.
Solo Flight 25-1 (8-3) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, soon behind, last of 17, 21l behind Courageous Duke (9-0) at Haydock 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Aug.
Danehill Willy (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) Led, quickened 5f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Pevensey (9-0) at York 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Chancellor (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) Prominent, pushed along over 3f out, ridden when weakening final furlong, 5th of 6, 7l behind Dubai Success (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-110 (2) hvy.