| Course: NEWBURY | Race date:19/04/08 | Race time:3:25 | Runners:13 |
| Race distance:7f | Going:Soft | Winners time:1m 28.69s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muthabara | R Hills | J L Dunlop | 10 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 103 | 9/4F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Dream Day | Ryan Moore | R Hannon | 7 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 96 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 1¼ |
| Lady Deauville | Stephen Donohoe | P A Blockley | 2 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 105 | 13/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | ¾ |
| Elizabeth Swann | Eddie Ahern | R Hannon | 3 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | nk |
| Edge Of Light | Catherine Gannon | B Palling | 9 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 99 | 50/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | nk |
| Don't Forget Faith | Philip Robinson | C G Cox | 12 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 103 | 11/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 1 |
| Tathkaar | N Callan | C E Brittain | 8 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 79 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | ¾ |
| Annie Skates | John Egan | Jane Chapple-Hyam | 4 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 104 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 2¼ |
| Michita | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 6 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 1¼ |
| Nahoodh | Richard Hughes | M R Channon | 11 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 110 | 5/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 10 | 3½ |
| Savannah Poppy | T P Queally | M L W Bell | 13 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 76 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 11 | 6 |
| Love Of Dubai | Kerrin McEvoy | C E Brittain | 5 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 12 | shd |
| Lille Ida | Martin Dwyer | M P Tregoning | 1 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 78 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 13 | ½ |
Muthabara mid-division on stands' side, some progress over 2f out, soon ridden, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on strongly to lead but edged left inside final furlong, readily
Dream Day chased leaders in centre, ridden over 2f out, led just over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner
Lady Deauville went left start, chased leaders in centre, ridden over 2f out, ran on final furlong, went 3rd near finish
Elizabeth Swann held up towards rear of centre group, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong
Edge Of Light led centre group, ridden and headed over 2f out, rallied and every chance entering final furlong, no extra
Don´t Forget Faith led stands' side trio but overall chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Tathkaar tracked leader in centre group, ridden to lead just over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
Annie Skates broke well, soon restrained in mid-division of centre group, headway over 3f out, soon ridden, one pace final 2f
Michita prominent in centre, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
Nahoodh held up on stands' side, switched left and ridden over 2f out, no impression
Savannah Poppy awkward leaving stalls, switched to centre group soon after start, always towards rear
Love Of Dubai held up towards rear of centre group, headway under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Lille Ida went left start, always towards rear of centre group
All eyes were on MUTHABARA, who was unbeaten in her two starts last year before being ruled out of the big autumn races by injury and had been the subject of a major ante-post gamble following a well publicised racecourse gallop at Goodwood. She did not disappoint, but it was only in the final furlong that she began to look a Classic prospect, and they were in a bit of a heap behind her.
This was not as impressive a trial as either Natagora’s or Infallible’s earlier in the week, and bookmakers were divided afterwards, with several leaving the winner unchanged, although Labrokes, Totesport and VCbet all cut her a point or so.
She was one of three to race on what her rider felt was better ground towards the stands’ side, where she was led by Don’t Forget Faith, but her chance did not look bright when being ridden approaching two furlongs out, and having drifted left to join the main group she had four or five ahead ofher and a couple of lengths to make up going into the final furlong. To her credit, when she found top gear she picked up quite impressively, and having led well inside the final furlong she was comfortably on top at the finish. The extra furlong at Newmarket is going to suit her admirably, and if she enjoys a bit of sunshine in the meantime so much the better, for she clearly hadn’t come to herself here.
Dream Day proved something of a surprise package in second, appearing to leave her juvenile form well behind. She had not been back in long and so her connections were thrilled with her, especially as they feel she will be much better next time. She will probably go to Newmarket, although she is also entered in France.
Lady Deauville was a good second too Muthabara at Sandown last summer and had shown herself well suited by the ground. She ran a big race in third, but was one of the sharper members of the field and one suspects this may have been her Guineas.
Edge Of Light led the main group up the middle of the track and was still there going to the furlong marker. This trip may well stretch her stamina, and to be only just edgedout of the placings was a cracking effort from a filly who had been off the track eight months.
Don’t Forget Faith, fifth in the Boussac, looked one of the better types in the preliminaries and led the stands’ side trio until Muthabara took over. Her stable is not really firing yet and she should do better.
Tathkaar only scrambled home in a Kempton maiden earlier this month, and she had a mountain climb on form. She was beaten little more than four lengths and is another who was too close for comfort.
Annie Skates, second on soft in the US in the autumn, raced handily and had her chance, while Yarmouth maiden winner Michita represented the stable responsible for Nell Gwyn winner Infallible as well as the sidelined Sense Of Joy, and there was no suggestion beforehand she was top flight. She got warm in the preliminaries and never really figured.
Nahoodh’s Lowther win was the best juvenile form, but Mick Channon, who has such a good record in this race, made no secret of thefact that she was more backward than he would have liked. She raced with Muthabara in the stands’ side trio, but was very disappointing, even making allowance for her having not come to herself yet.
Savannah Poppy andLille Ida were too keen, while Love Of Dubai was only just behind Elizabeth Swann at Kempton but ran nowhere near that form this time. (GD)
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