| Course: AYR | Race date:19/04/08 | Race time:4:20 | Runners:10 |
| Race distance:2m5½f | Going:Good | Winners time:5m 8.40s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overserved | Timmy Murphy | Miss P Robson | 11-10 | 9 | 0 | 131 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | ||
| Gansey | Sam Thomas | P F Nicholls | 11-4 | 6 | 0 | 125 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 5 | |
| Menchikov | A P McCoy | N J Henderson | 11-6 | 8 | 0 | 127 | 5/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 16 | |
| Double Vodka | C I Gillies | C Grant | 10-13 | 7 | 0 | 127 | 15/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 8 | |
| Culcabock | Peter Buchanan | Miss Lucinda V Russell | 11-2 | 8 | 0 | 123 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 8 | |
| Special Day | Dominic Elsworth | Mrs L Wadham | 10-7 | 4 | 0 | 120 | 9/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 2 | |
| Hearthstead Dream | Richard Johnson | Gordon Elliott | 10-8 | 7 | 0 | 115 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | F | ||
| Echo Point | Brian Harding | N G Richards | 11-5 | 8 | 0 | 126 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU | ||
| Spring Breeze | Robert Thornton | Ferdy Murphy | 10-10 | 7 | 0 | 117 | 15/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | PU | ||
| Pacha D'Oudairies | R Walsh | P F Nicholls | 11-1 | 5 | 0 | 122 | 5/2F | NA | NA | NA | NA | BD |
Overserved chased leaders, reminders 4th, dropped back 6th, joined leader 8th, challenged 3 out, led next, pushed clear final 150yds
Gansey with leaders, led after 8th, mistake next, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in
Menchikov chased leaders, ridden and left modest 4th 9th, kept on from 3 out, took modest 3rd run-in
Double Vodka chased leaders, left clear 3rd 9th, outpaced approaching next, weakened last
Culcabock in rear, lost place 9th, soon well behind, tailed off 3 out
Special Day held up in rear, in rear and driven 7th, behind from 9th
Pacha D´Oudairies held up in last, smooth headway 8th, prominent when brought down next
Echo Point led, headed after 8th, lost place and pulled up before next
Spring Breeze went prominent 4th, hit next, reminders 6th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before next
Hearthstead Dream held up in rear, headway and prominent 8th, with leaders when fell 9th
But switching back to hurdling certainly did the trick for OVERSERVED, who had been pulled up over fences on his previous start but did an awful lot better here, challenging from three out and coming clear on the run-in for an authoritative success. He had been progressing well over hurdles and has clearly resumed on the upgrade so could well build on this.
Only other serious contender in the straight was the always-prominent Gansey, who had disappointed when stepped up in grade on his previous two starts but confirmed himself fairly useful. This was reportedly his last run over hurdles and he should make a decent novice chaser next season.
But both the first two would have been given a good deal more to do had Hearthstead Dream not fallen four out when holding every chance on the outside - he had a decent claim at the weights judged on his best form and is well worth another chance in this type of country.
Menchikov was a slightly one-paced third and probably needs further, while a drop in distance may prove more the answer for Double Vodka.
Special Day may need more give in the ground to be at his best. (DC)
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