| Course: NEWMARKET | Race date:17/04/08 | Race time:5:30 | Runners:14 |
| Race distance:1m2f | Going:Good | Winners time:2m 6.35s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Cannon | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 13 | 9-1 | 3 | 0 | 84 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Doctor Fremantle | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 3 | 9-1 | 3 | 0 | 84 | 11/8F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | nk |
| Dream Desert | Edward Creighton | M R Channon | 5 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 83 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 5 |
| Ragamuffin Man | Paul Doe | W J Knight | 14 | 8-10 | 3 | 0 | 79 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 5 |
| Ballochroy | Michael Hills | B W Hills | 10 | 9-2 | 3 | 0 | 85 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | ½ |
| Irish Mayhem | L Dettori | B J Meehan | 8 | 8-13 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 1¾ |
| Prime Exhibit | Steve Drowne | R Charlton | 1 | 9-1 | 3 | 0 | 84 | 4/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 1 |
| Presbyterian Nun | Seb Sanders | J L Dunlop | 7 | 9-4 | 3 | 0 | 87 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | ½ |
| Giant Love | Joe Fanning | M Johnston | 12 | 8-12 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 2¾ |
| Mystery Star | Jimmy Quinn | M H Tompkins | 2 | 9-1 | 3 | 0 | 84 | 50/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10 | 4 |
| The Betchworth Kid | Hayley Turner | M L W Bell | 4 | 9-2 | 3 | 0 | 85 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 11 | ¾ |
| Grand Strategy | Philip Robinson | M A Jarvis | 11 | 8-13 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 12 | 9 |
| Goodwood Starlight | Kerrin McEvoy | J L Dunlop | 9 | 8-11 | 3 | 0 | 80 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 13 | 2¼ |
| Black Rain | Ted Durcan | P J McBride | 6 | 8-13 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 50/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 14 | 1¼ |
Bronze Cannon always prominent, led over 2f out, rider dropped rein inside final furlong, edged left, driven out
Doctor Fremantle held up, headway over 2f out, every chance from over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on
Dream Desert held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, stayed on same pace
Ragamuffin Man chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, edged left and weakened over 1f out
Ballochroy held up, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Irish Mayhem held up, raced keenly, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Prime Exhibit held up, headway over 2f out, edged right and weakened over 1f out
Presbyterian Nun held up, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
Giant Love led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Mystery Star held up, headway over 2f out, soon weakened
The Betchworth Kid held up, ridden 3f out, weakening when not clear run over 2f out
Grand Strategy prominent, weakened well over 1f out, eased
Goodwood Starlight raced alone, with leaders until weakened over 2f out
Black Rain prominent over 7f
The latter’s stablemate Doctor Fremantle, an Irish Derby entry, was all the rage in the morning, but he met his match in last year’s dual Kempton winner BRONZE CANNON, who has Dante and Derby entries but at this stage seems unlikely to be aimed quite that high. The pair came five lengths clear of the third, who was a similar distance ahead of the rest, and they both look pretty smart.
Bronze Cannon had been off the track for six months and was making his turf debut, but his stable has been in terrific form at this meeting and the step up in distance was to his advantage. Jimmy Fortune appeared to drop his right-hand rein inside the final furlong, which may account for Bronze Cannon edging back towards the middle of the track near thefinish, but it did not stop him riding a typically strong finish on the colt, who held on gamely after the favourite had looked the likelier winner when starting his challenge. Although he will be rated in the low-to-mid 90s after this, he may well have another handicap in him before he is forced up in grade.
Doctor Fremantle looked good when winning at Nottingham last year, and he must have been giving all the right signals at home. Having been dropped in at the back of the field he made his effort on the far side of the pack and got there in plenty of time, but in a cracking finish the winner proved just too strong for him. He ought to be able to win a similar race at this trip, but there is every likelihood he will be seen to even better advantage over a bit further. He remains a decent prospect.
Ragamuffin Man weakened in the final furlong after racing prominently and was beaten more than ten lengths, but he was not disgraced considering what a hot race it looked. Nor was Ballochroy,who was 4lb higher than when second at Leicester a fortnight previously and might be best with more give underfoot.
Irish Mayhem, still a maiden, had no easy task on paper, but a Dante entry suggests he is well regarded and he might be worth another chance.
More interesting for the immediate future, however, is the well-regarded Prime Exhibit, who ran a fair bit better than the bare facts suggest. Having been held up at the back of the field, travelling well, he was switched to the stands’ side of the group to make his effort, and that turned out to be the wrong side. He took soon the measure of those he was racing closest to, but he had no chance with the principals, who were towards the far rail, and he just got a bit tired in the closingstages after looking as though he might finish fourth. He should leave this well behind next time and remains one to keep an eye on.
Further back, the previously unbeaten Goodwood Starlight raced alone towards the stands’ side and dropped right away to finish well beaten. He might not be straightforward. [GD]
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