Racing Plus Chase (Grade 3 Handicap) 3m
- (5yo+, 3m, Class 1, 13 runners)
- Winner £56,950 2nd £21,370 3rd £10,700 4th £5,330 5th £2,680 6th £1,340
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
Print| Pos | Horse | Distance/th> | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 Opening Batsman | 12/1 | |
| 2nd | 4 Rolling Aces | 2 | 4/1 |
| 3rd | 9 Duke Of Lucca | 6 | 10/1 |
Racecard
| # | Form | Horse | A | Wgt | Trainer | Jockey | OR | Naps | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4P/33F7- |
|
10 | 166 11-12 | P F Nicholls | Harry Derham (5) | 161 | 25/1 | |
| 2 | 3515-64 |
|
12 | 160 11-6 t | T R George | P J Brennan | 155 | 10/1 | |
| 3 | 87-1U35 |
|
11 | 159 11-5 | N J Henderson | B J Geraghty | 154 | 12/1 | |
| 4 | 20-4311 |
|
7 | 154 11-0 | P F Nicholls | R Walsh | 149 | 4/1 | |
| 5 | 201-P40 |
|
9 | 152 10-12 | R Lee | J E Moore | 147 | 33/1 | |
| 6 | 175-P80 |
|
8 | 152 10-12 | N J Henderson | A Tinkler | 147 | 20/1 | |
| 7 | 131P/PP- |
|
9 | 149 10-9 | P J Hobbs | R Johnson | 144 | 12/1 | |
| 8 | 11F2-11 |
|
9 | 147 10-7 | D G Bridgwater | A P McCoy | 142 | 3/1f | |
| 9 | 2511-20 |
|
8 | 145 10-5 t | P J Hobbs | T J O'Brien | 140 | 10/1 | |
| 10 | 1-60121 |
|
7 | 145 10-5 | H Fry | N Fehily | 140 | 12/1 | |
| 11 | 1-23413 |
|
7 | 142 10-2 | N A Twiston-Davies | S Twiston-Davies | 137 | 6/1 | |
| 12 | 4-13116 |
|
8 | 140 10-0 v | Jonjo O'Neill | Maurice Linehan (5) | 135 | 25/1 | |
| 13 | P1/401-3 |
|
9 | 140 10-0 | Miss V Williams | Aidan Coleman | 133 | 16/1 |
Race History
| Year | Draw | Horse | A | Wgt | Trainer | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 |
Nacarat (FR)
|
11 | 11-8 | T R George | P J Brennan | 9/2 |
In depth
Verdict
Philip Hobbs has farmed this valuable handicap in recent years but 2011 winner Quinz has failed to complete in three runs since that victory and Duke Of Lucca may find this an insufficient test of stamina. Paul Nicholls has saddled the favourite in the last five years and Rolling Aces will be popular with punters here. Progressive, he's on a hat-trick and should confirm latest Wincanton running with Opening Batsman while last year's winner Nacarat has been targeted at the race again and should be thereabouts. He can confirm 2012 form with Hector's Choice. This is an easy track so Quantitativeeasing has a chance of getting home and is feasibly weighted if doing so but it must be significant that McCoy prefers J P McManus' other runner WYCK HILL. David Bridgwater has no qualms about going to war with the big boys if he thinks he has the ammunition and his nine-year-old looks a blot on the handicap on his defeat of Gold Cup hopeful Katenko at Ascot in December when Roberto Goldback was a remote third. Summery Justice is a couple of pounds out of the handicap but ran a nice race on his reappearance and could run into a place.
Formwatch
Opening Batsman (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, edged right before last, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) sft in Jan beating Howard's Legacy (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Rolling Aces (IRE) 4-7fav (11-6) In touch, headway 7th, led 10th, ridden 3 out, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec beating Opening Batsman (11-3) by 11l, 7 ran.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 5 out, weakened next, 11th of 19, well behind Bobs Worth (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Quinz (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until 11th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Golan Way (11-5) at Sandown 3m Listed chs (1) gs in Dec '11, 5 ran.
Roberto Goldback (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Behind, slow 9th, weakened 15th, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 42l behind On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.
Same Difference (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Led, joined 10th, narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, one pace in 3rd and and held when slightly hampered at elbow final 110 yards, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Unioniste (11-4) at Newbury 3m nov chs (3) sft.
Hector's Choice (FR) 66-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Medinas (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy.
What A Friend 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, blundered 15th, outpaced 4 out, never able to challenge, 7th of 11, 17l behind Follow The Plan (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Apr.
Summery Justice (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) In touch, under pressure 15th, chased leaders 3 out, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 7, 9l behind On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up, always behind, 10th of 16, 44l behind Katenko (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Led until 2nd, pressed leader, led again 4th until 8th, stayed pressing, led agin after 3 out, stayed on strongly from last, won at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec beating Katenko (10-1) by 4l, 6 ran.
Nacarat (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent on outside, hit 12th (canal turn), jumped right and struggling from next (valentines), remote in 4th from 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, well behind Little Josh (10-9) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Mister Hyde (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Led until 10th, led again 12th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 44l behind On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.