| Course: NEWBURY | Race date:21/04/07 | Race time:2:10 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:1m4f | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:2m 36.83s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maraahel | R Hills | Sir Michael Stoute | 7 | 9-3 | 6 | 120 | 121 | 9/4F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Mighty | John Egan | Jane Chapple-Hyam | 8 | 8-11 | 4 | 114 | 105 | 11/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | nk |
| Munsef | Martin Dwyer | J L Dunlop | 5 | 8-12 | 5 | 112 | 110 | 11/4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 1¼ |
| Sergeant Cecil | L Dettori | B R Millman | 9 | 9-5 | 8 | 118 | 115 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 1 |
| The Whistling Teal | Steve Drowne | G Wragg | 1 | 8-12 | 11 | 107 | 107 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 1¾ |
| Akarem | Pat Cosgrave | K R Burke | 2 | 8-12 | 6 | 107 | 105 | 28/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | nk |
| Bulwark | Jim Crowley | Mrs A J Perrett | 6 | 8-12 | 5 | 102 | 104 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 3 |
| Green Room | Eddie Ahern | J L Dunlop | 4 | 8-8 | 4 | 97 | 101 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 1 |
Maraahel took keen hold and set modest pace until quickened from 5f out, hard driven when challenged from 2f out, held on well throughout final furlong
Mighty in touch, ridden and headway to chase winner 3f out, hard ridden to challenge from 2f out, upsides inside final furlong, no extra near finish
Munsef chased leaders, ridden and outpaced over 4f out, stayed on again under pressure final furlong, going on close home
Sergeant Cecil held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, switched right to outside 2f out, driven and stayed on final furlong, going on close home
Admiral´s Cruise in rear, headway 4f out, driven to chase leaders from 3f out, one pace final 2f
The Whistling Teal held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, kept on from over 1f out but never going pace to get into contention
Akarem chased leader, ridden 4f out, soon one pace
Bulwark held up, headway 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened from 3f out
Green Room chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
MARAAHEL stood out on his best form, but he is not easy to win with (he was only third last year when he also had an obvious chance) and was tried in blinkers here, rather than the usual visor (he wore neither 12 months ago). He owes his success in part to a clever front-running ride from Richard Hills, who didn't fight him when heset off running very keen but then slowed it right down on the turn before kicking on again as they straightened up. The change of tactics worked well, and although Mighty got upsides looking very dangerous with around two furlongs to go, Maraahel showedno sign of shirking the issue. He was always just holding on and Hills was able to put his whip down in the last 100 yards. While he didn't need to reproduce his Group 1 form, this was an encouraging reappearance. He is firmly on course for another crackat the Hardwicke, which he won last year.
Bargain buy Mighty had been a revelation on the all-weather, finishing fourth in the Winter Derby, and his new connections had said all along he would be better again back on turf. He was given a fine rideand was best placed to respond when Maraahel stepped up the gallop again. He gave his former stablemate a fright and finished a clear second best, confirming he is versatile and still improving.
Sergeant Cecil repeated last year's fourth, but he ran much better, as he was carrying a Group 1 7lb penalty this time. He was going on very well at the finish after being dropped out as usual, and he heads for the Yorkshire Cup, in which he will be penalised again but must have a great chance.
Admiral's Cruise, tried in blinkers, went well until approaching two furlongs out. Most from his stable have been wanting a run, and that was probably the case here.
Veteran The Whistling Teal wasn't disgraced considering he wants softer ground and a stronger gallop. Akarem ran respectably too, and was clear of the quirky Bulwark, who wants further, and Green Room, who was the only filly in the race and was up in class but had the form to run much better. [GD]
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