16:35 Ascot
Friday 14 July 2017
All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40
Long Harbour Derek Lucie-Smith Memorial Handicap
- 3YO plus | Class 3 | 6f | Good | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 1m 14.1s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Fourth in a Swedish Listed event last time and well beaten on his last start in this country off this mark. Has been blowing his chance at the start lately and can ill afford to do so here with Major Pusey in the lineup.
Has a soft ground win to his name at Redcar (7f) from last year, with both subsequent successes being over 6f on All Weather surfaces. Still to prove he is up to his current mark and others make more appeal.
Has been running well in better races than this and remains much higher in the weights than for her last victory. She still looks capable of winning from around this mark judged on her latest effort but she could be vulnerable to a less exposed rival. Stable are seeking their first winner of the year.
Finished down the field in this 12 months ago and is 3lb higher in the weights this time. Arrives on the back of a poor effort and others look more likely.
Winner here and at Newbury last term and showed improved to score at Goodwood in May. Produced a career best in finishing third in a Wokingham trial at Newmarket last time off this mark. Younger horses have won nine of the ten renewals of this but he has a chance of bagging one for the older brigade.
Runner-up to Home Of The Brave as a juvenile and landed a modest Wolverhamptyon maiden the following year. Missed the whole of 2016 but would have delighted connections with his comeback run at Ripon against fitter rivals. That form has been working out and this lightly raced sort, who is yet to finish out of the frame, will be expected to run a big race.
Record of 2-23 and a two year gap since his last win is hardly the ideal profile but his third in a very hot handicap at Newcastle last time gives a clear chance. Good claimer on board and looks sure to be thereabouts if the ground continues to dry out.
Remains 7lb above his last winning mark whilst running consistently well in defeat. That said, he is nicely weighted with the likes of Little Palaver and Boy In The Bar on some pieces of form.
Game front-runner who has been in excellent form lately since stepping up to 6f. Only just touched off after setting a strong pace at Haydock when bidding to follow up a Windsor success. Those runs came on easy ground but he has proven his effectiveness on faster surfaces too should conditions dry out.
Younger horses have done well in this in the past but he has been off the track longer than would be ideal. He would be at a further disadvantage if conditions turned any quicker than good. Nicely weighted on his latest run and stable are in cracking form.
Raised in class and dropped in trip but worth a go given he can be a bit keen and there is going to be a good pace to aim at. Stable are in from and he ticks all the boxes for the profile of recent winners in terms of age, days since his last run and placing last time.
Forecasts
Atletico (9/2), Moonraker (5/1), Boy In The Bar (6/1), Patchwork (6/1), Jordan Sport (7/1), Hyperfocus (8/1), Hakam (10/1), Major Pusey (12/1), Lightning Charlie (16/1), Stellarta (20/1), Little Palaver (20/1)
Nine of the last ten renewals of this have gone to horses aged 3-4 who made the frame last time and who have run in the last couple of months. That makes PATCHWORK an interesting runner in this as he is the only horse who meets those credentials. It is assumed the report from his latest race was to try him over this shorter trip after he failed to get home over 7f at Newmarket. He can be keen at times and there is merit in having a go at a sprint on a stiff course. Atletico will attract strong support for his in form yard given the promise of his comeback run, whilst Major Pusey will blast off in front and get many of these off the bridle earlier than they would wish. Hyperfocus represents another in form yard and connections will be hoping the ground remains suitable.
- Patchwork
- Atletico
- Hyperfocus
Prize Money
1st: £9,704.002nd: £2,888.003rd: £1,443.004th: £722.00
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