| Course: SANDOWN | Race date:26/04/08 | Race time:4:30 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:1m2f | Going:Good | Winners time:2m 9.61s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 3 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 105 | 11/8F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Whistledownwind | L Dettori | P W Chapple-Hyam | 6 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 88 | 5/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | nk |
| Feared In Flight | Darryll Holland | B W Hills | 7 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 111 | 7/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 1¼ |
| Top Lock | Jamie Spencer | A M Balding | 8 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 80 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 1½ |
| Mut'Ab | Ryan Moore | C E Brittain | 5 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 90 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 3¾ |
| Latin Lad | Richard Hughes | R Hannon | 9 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 100 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 2¼ |
| Endless Luck | Joe Fanning | M Johnston | 1 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 90 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | hd |
| Whitcombe Minister | John Egan | Jamie Poulton | 4 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 20/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 1¾ |
| Ruff Diamond | L P Keniry | J R Best | 2 | 9-0 | 3 | 0 | 90 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 2 |
Centennial led after 1f, kicked on 4f out, driven 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, held on
Whistledownwind held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, progress from 2f out to chase winner 1f out, closing near finish, always just held
Feared In Flight held up in last pair, brought wide and progress well over 1f out, ran on well to close on leading pair near finish, no chance to challenge
Top Lock led 1f, chased leading pair after, ridden from halfway, still close up 2f out, kept on well under pressure
Mut´Ab tracked leaders, ridden and progress to chase winner 2f out to 1f out, hanging and weakened
Latin Lad held up towards rear, not clear run briefly over 2f out, no progress and beaten when hampered over 1f out, plugged on
Endless Luck tracked winner after 1f to 2f out, soon weakened
Whitcombe Minister held up in midfield, ridden over 2f out, no progress, weakened over 1f out
Ruff Diamond held up in last pair, brief effort 3f out, soon beaten
John Gosden has his team in tremendous early-season form and he has a terrific record in this race, as besides winning with Pollen Count, True Hero, Linney Head and Santillana, he was also second in 1997 with his Derby winner Benny The Dip. Only Gosden will know where Centennial stands against that quintet, but it was interesting to hear him say that while his previous winners of this race were primed for it, Centennial was not, and nor was Benny The Dip. Centennial's two-year-old form was quietly progressive and he ended up finishing second to a subsequent Group 1winner at Saint-Cloud. It's debatable if he improved significantly on that form in winning here, but he showed a good attitude and more will be known about him after he has run in the Dante.
Whistledownwind is not entered at Epsom, as trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam points out that he does not travel well enough for the Derby. Still inexperienced, he took time hitting top gear but ran on well to take second well inside the final furlong. The margin of defeat was narrow, but he was being held at the finish. The St Leger is the long-term target, but the Lingfield Derby Trial is a possibility and then races like the Voltigeur. However, he evidently must have some ease.
Recent Kempton debut winner Top Lock excelled himself in fourth. He was being pushed along on the inner at halfway but stuck on well to finish clear of the rest in fourth, leaving his maiden form well behind. The German Derby has been mentioned for him, and he could becompetitive there.
The maiden Mut'Ab looked a danger halfway up the straight, but he hung badly and weakened to finish a soundly beaten fifth. He has plenty of ability, but the danger is that he will be aimed too high.
Latin Lad, stepping up in trip after his Easter Stakes third, was keen early on when the pace was steady and found himself short of room inside the last two furlongs, although it made little difference.
Endless Luck faded in the last two furlongs after pressing the winner, while Whitcombe Minister's effort early in the straight proved shortlived, although he ran better than his finishing position suggests and might not have stayed.
Ruff Diamond was in trouble a long way out but connections remain of the opinion he is better than he is showing. [GD]
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