| Course: SANDOWN | Race date:07/01/06 | Race time:2:05 | Runners:14 |
| Race distance:3m½f | Going:Good To Soft | Winners time:6m 24.90s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Approach | A P McCoy | C R Egerton | 11-6 | 8 | 145 | 132 | 7/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Shalako | P J Brennan | P J Hobbs | 10-4 | 8 | 123 | 116 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 3½ | |
| Jakari | Mark Bradburne | H D Daly | 11-4 | 9 | 137 | 130 | 22/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 1½ | |
| Lou Du Moulin Mas | G Lee | P F Nicholls | 11-4 | 7 | 129 | 130 | 11/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 8 | |
| Liberthine | Mr S Waley-Cohen | N J Henderson | 11-1 | 7 | 129 | 134 | 9/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 4 | |
| Gunther McBride | Robert Stephens | P J Hobbs | 11-5 | 11 | 125 | 134 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 2½ | |
| Durlston Bay | Leighton Aspell | S Dow | 10-1 | 9 | 100 | 113 | 50/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 5 | |
| Holy Joe | Sam Thomas | Miss Venetia Williams | 11-2 | 9 | 0 | 128 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU | ||
| Ladalko | Christian Williams | P F Nicholls | 11-5 | 7 | 147 | 131 | 7/2F | NA | NA | NA | NA | F | ||
| Distant Thunder | Andrew Thornton | R H Alner | 11-5 | 8 | 0 | 131 | 9/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU | ||
| Horus | Tom Malone | M C Pipe | 11-9 | 11 | 0 | 138 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU |
GRAPHIC APPROACH fell into the former category, but he was probably lucky, as Ladalko was three lengths clear of him and staying on when he came down at the second last. Left five lengths clear, he then found himself challenged again by Shalako and Jakari at the last, but after going right to begin with on the run-in he stayed on well up the hill. Charles Egerton, who felt that he was still in with a chance when left clear, nominated the Racing Post Chase back here at Sandown or the Vodafone at Newbury as possible targets for the eight-year-old, who is still going the right way.
Ladalko, who had appreciated the step up in trip when winning at Newbury, was 9lb higher here, but on this evidence he is still on a winning mark, as he had gone strongly into the lead three out and was showing no sign of stopping.
Jakari, who lost his form after an unhappy experience of the Aintree fences, showed clear signs of returning to form under a positive ride, and on better ground he would have gone even closer. He was 9lb lower here than when fifth to Kelami at Cheltenham in March, and should remain well treated if reassessed. He is the one to take out of the race.
The first three were clear of Lou du Moulin Mas, on whom the first-time blinkers appeared to have little effect, and Liberthine, who closed up starting down the far side for the second time but was in trouble on the long run to three out.
Gunther McBride is not the force he was and could have done without the easing in the ground.
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