| Course: NEWMARKET | Race date:17/04/08 | Race time:3:45 | Runners:10 |
| Race distance:1m | Going:Good | Winners time:1m 38.54s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twice Over | Ted Durcan | H R A Cecil | 9 | 8-12 | 3 | 122 | 94 | 9/4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Raven's Pass | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 12 | 8-12 | 3 | 122 | 120 | 11/8F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | shd |
| The Bogberry | J Murtagh | A P O´Brien | 2 | 8-12 | 3 | 108 | 0 | 28/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 6 |
| River Proud | T Quinn | P F I Cole | 6 | 8-12 | 3 | 105 | 110 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 1½ |
| Alexander Castle | N Callan | K A Ryan | 7 | 8-12 | 3 | 91 | 109 | 15/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 6 |
| City Leader | Jamie Spencer | B J Meehan | 3 | 9-1 | 3 | 86 | 111 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 3½ |
| Declaration Of War | Robert Havlin | P W Chapple-Hyam | 10 | 8-12 | 3 | 79 | 115 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 2 |
| Indian Skipper | Jimmy Quinn | M H Tompkins | 1 | 8-12 | 3 | 65 | 80 | 100/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 6 |
| Scintillo | Richard Hughes | R Hannon | 5 | 9-1 | 3 | 62 | 114 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 2½ |
| Great Rumpuscat | David McCabe | A P O´Brien | 11 | 8-12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10 | 28 |
Twice Over tracked leaders, led over 1f out, soon ridden and headed, hung right inside final furlong, rallied to lead near finish
Raven´s Pass held up, headway 2f out, led 1f out, soon ridden and hung right, headed near finish
The Bogberry held up, headway over 1f out, ran on, not trouble leaders
River Proud led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Alexander Castle held up, headway under pressure 2f out, edged right and weakened over 1f out
City Leader held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out
Declaration Of War prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
Indian Skipper held up, weakened over 2f out
Scintillo chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Great Rumpuscat chased leaders over 5f, eased over 1f out
Twice Over ran to figures only in the 90s when winning twice here last year, but he was impressive both times and his homework evidently suggested he was pretty classy. He did not look short of speed in the 1m2f Zetland Stakes, but connections were not sure how effective he would be at 1m this year and despite his success here they are still not convinced he is a Guineas colt. Never too far off the pace set by River Proud, he picked up the leader running down into the Dip but was immediately challenged by Raven’s Pass, who went a good neck or more up. He looked beaten, but despite edging over to the right he found plenty and just outstayed Raven’s Pass in a driving finish.
Henry Cecil’s initial reaction was that Twice Over might not come back for the Guineas, in which case he would presumably go for the Dante instead, with a view to then going on to Epsom or Chantilly. Cecil resisted the temptation to run fellow Craven winner Lyphard’s Wish in the Guineas many years ago, but it may prove harder to do so this time, especially as Twice Over is by Observatory andso by no means certain to stay the 1m4f at Epsom.
The drying ground was to the advantage of runaway Solario winner Raven’s Pass, who didn’t quite get home in softish going in the Dewhurst after looking the likely winner when he went to the front, but quicker going would have been better for him and John Gosden seemed perfectly happy with this, stressing that this was just a trial and that he will be all the better for the race. Dropped in behind from his draw on the wide outside, he was ridden very patiently, with Twice Over always in his sights, and picked up impressively from around two furlongs out. He led with a furlong to go, but then hung to the right in front and was just run out of it in after touching 1-25 in running. His 2,000 Guineas credentials are not diminished in the slightest, and if the ground continues drying out so much the better.
River Proud burst out of the stalls and found himself in front, which had not been the plan. Having made such a good start he continued to lead until the winner took over running down into the Dip, and although he weakened in the final furlong he showed enough to suggest he has trained on. He could well be aimed now at the French 2,000 Guineas.
The rest were beaten upwards of 13 lengths, which does not augur well for their immediate prospects. Alexander Castle, whom Kevin Ryan rated his first serious Classic hope, did best of them, but having been held up he did not have the speed to get in a blow.Although he was thought to be fit enough and he impressed on the way down to the start, he is probably worth another chance.
The Royal Lodge winner and Racing Post Trophy second City Leader had a penalty but was put very firmly in his place. It’s a bit tenuous, but his performance here hardly advertised the claims of his Doncaster conqueror Ibn Khaldun, who is fourth favourite for the Guineas.
Declaration Of War was in trouble soon after halfway and was beaten the best part of 20 lengths, and there was another big gap back to Lingfield maiden winner Indian Skipper, who seemed out of his depth, and the rest, who included Scintillo, a Group 1 winner in Italy last autumn but beaten two furlongs out here.
Perfect Stride unfortunately had to be withdrawn with a swelling to a hock shortly before he was due to be saddled. He had plenty to find on his bare form, but he was as short as 16-1 in places for the 2,000 Guineas.
Richard Hughes reported that Scintillo stopped very quickly. [GD]
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.
