| Course: AINTREE | Race date:05/04/08 | Race time:3:25 | Runners:22 |
| Race distance:3m½f | Going:Good | Winners time:6m 8.00s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Pennant | R Walsh | P F Nicholls | 10-13 | 6 | 0 | 130 | 9/2F | 2.66 | 2.5 | 2.12 | 1.01 | 1 | ||
| Superior Wisdom | W T Kennedy | A M Hales | 10-13 | 8 | 0 | 130 | 11/1 | 4.1 | 3.66 | 3 | 1.01 | 2 | 1¼ | |
| According To Pete | Fergus King | J M Jefferson | 11-1 | 7 | 0 | 132 | 16/1 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 2.56 | 1.01 | 3 | 8 | |
| Reel Charmer | Jan Faltejsek | G A Charlton | 10-13 | 8 | 0 | 130 | 28/1 | 9 | 7.87 | 5.3 | 1.01 | 4 | hd | |
| Auroras Encore | Tjade Collier | Mrs S J Smith | 10-11 | 6 | 0 | 133 | 14/1 | 5.1 | 4.42 | 3.35 | 1.21 | 5 | 3½ | |
| Backbord | Dominic Elsworth | Mrs L Wadham | 11-2 | 6 | 0 | 133 | 11/1 | 4.4 | 3.89 | 2.72 | 2.32 | 6 | 4 | |
| Fresh Winter | Phil Kinsella | J Mackie | 11-6 | 6 | 0 | 137 | 11/1 | 4.4 | 3.84 | 2.18 | 3.4 | 7 | 1 | |
| Artiste Bay | B J Geraghty | Eoin Griffin | 10-12 | 6 | 0 | 129 | 50/1 | 20 | 15.72 | 10 | 1.22 | 8 | 1¼ | |
| Mendo | Tom Siddall | Noel T Chance | 11-2 | 8 | 0 | 133 | 12/1 | 5 | 4.19 | 2.9 | 1.79 | 9 | nk | |
| Copsale Lad | Andrew Tinkler | N J Henderson | 11-5 | 11 | 0 | 136 | 25/1 | 8.6 | 7.61 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 10 | 5 | |
| Overstrand | S P Jones | Dr R D P Newland | 10-9 | 9 | 0 | 129 | 50/1 | 21 | 14.54 | 8 | 1.48 | 11 | 1½ | |
| Hennessy | Noel Fehily | Carl Llewellyn | 11-4 | 7 | 0 | 135 | 16/1 | 5.7 | 5.06 | 4.6 | 3.1 | 12 | 11 | |
| Gustavo | Sam Thomas | Miss Venetia Williams | 10-11 | 7 | 0 | 128 | 40/1 | 15 | 11.5 | 3.95 | 4.9 | 13 | 2¼ | |
| Laertes | Mr O Greenall | C Grant | 10-13 | 7 | 0 | 137 | 22/1 | 8.4 | 5.87 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 14 | 23 | |
| Coq Hardi | T J O´Brien | P Bowen | 11-4 | 7 | 0 | 135 | 25/1 | 9.6 | 7.11 | 4 | 5 | 15 | ½ | |
| Tagula Blue | Michael Murphy | Ian Williams | 10-4 | 8 | 0 | 128 | 25/1 | 8 | 7.3 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 16 | 3 | |
| Don't Push It | A P McCoy | Jonjo O´Neill | 11-4 | 8 | 0 | 135 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 17 | 4½ | |
| Buena Vista | Tom Scudamore | D E Pipe | 11-9 | 7 | 0 | 140 | 14/1 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 2.76 | 18 | 4½ | |
| Chief Yeoman | A Coleman | Miss Venetia Williams | 10-13 | 8 | 0 | 135 | 66/1 | 40 | 22.28 | 3.8 | 8 | 19 | 1 | |
| Rio De Janeiro | Paul Moloney | Miss E C Lavelle | 10-13 | 7 | 0 | 130 | 14/1 | 5.5 | 4.42 | 3.45 | 3.7 | PU | ||
| Dream Alliance | Richard Johnson | P J Hobbs | 10-13 | 7 | 0 | 130 | 16/1 | 5.9 | 5.33 | 4.2 | 3.05 | PU | ||
| Grand Bleu | C Pieux | F Doumen | 11-12 | 5 | 0 | 143 | 33/1 | 17 | 11.26 | 9.6 | 8 | PU |
Forest Pennant held up in rear, effort when mistake 9th, headway 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, joined leader last, soon led, hard ridden and stayed on
Superior Wisdom tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, 4 lengths ahead when hit 2 out, headed soon after last, no extra last 150yds
According To Pete held up in rear, headway 8th, stayed on same pace from 3 out
Reel Charmer held up in rear, headway 8th, went 2nd 2 out, one pace
Auroras Encore chased leaders, led after 10th, headed approaching next, stayed on same pace
Backbord chased leaders, one pace from 3 out
Fresh Winter prominent, outpaced 10th, kept on from 2 out
Artiste Bay in touch, went prominent 9th, one pace from 3 out
Mendo held up in mid-division, headway 9th, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
Copsale Lad held up in rear, some headway 3 out, never a factor
Overstrand held up in rear, headway 9th, never near leaders
Hennessy with leader, led 9th until after next, soon weakened
Gustavo in rear, hit 9th, never on terms
Laertes in rear, driven 7th, behind from 10th
Coq Hardi tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place after 10th
Tagula Blue in rear, behind from 10th
Don´t Push It chased leaders, lost place after 10th
Buena Vista led, headed 9th, lost place after next
Chief Yeoman in touch, lost place 9th, soon behind
Dream Alliance prominent, hit 3rd, mistake and lost place 9th, soon pulled up
Grand Bleu in rear, hit 6th, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Rio De Janeiro prominent, lost place after 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
The good gallop suited FOREST PENNANT, who had to come from welloff the pace after dropping to the rear with a mistake at the ninth flight. He still had plenty to do at the next and though he began to make ground he was only seventh or eighth three-out. He continued his progress to go second two flights out, joined the leader at the last and battled on well to get on top on the run-in. He had been progressing well at 2m4f and this step up in trip looked to suit him. He is an unexposed stayer who looks to have more long-distance handicaps in him.
Superior Wisdom is an improving 2m4f hurdler who stepped up to a longer trip. He led before three-out and was nearly five lengths clear when hitting the second last flight. He was caught after the final flight though he kept on gamely and it was only in the final 100 yards that his measure was taken. He is a useful staying novice and he too should win more races.
According To Pete had run his best race to date when third in the Pertemps Hurdle Final at Cheltenham and ran every bit as well here off a slightly higher mark, while Reel Charmer ran a fine race following a 6lb rise for her Newcastle win and is clearly suited by 3m.
Backbord may be less than entirely straightforward but he ran creditably, doing better than at Cheltenham and possibly suited by this sounder surface. Fresh Winter could not reproduce the much-improved form of his Bangor win in the mud seven days earlier and may need testing conditions.
Irish challenger Artiste Bay ran a little better than he had at Cheltenham but that track may prove to be more suitable for Mendo, who was outpaced from four-out and then slightly hampered before the next.
Hennessy led from the ninth until after the next but may be in the handicapper's grip, while this speed track did not seem to suit Laertes.
Don't Push It was squeezed for room on the inside before three-out and may not have stayed the trip. He had looked to have the potential for improvement over hurdles and is better than this. Long-time leader Buena Vista paid the price for his exertions. (DC)
Racing results courtesy of racing post. Please note that ever effort is made to ensure results are correct but I accept no liability for mistakes. The data is provided as a free service.
Please visit my Blog or sign up to my racing forum for the latest news and views.