| Course: REDCAR | Race date:01/05/08 | Race time:3:00 | Runners:7 |
| Race distance:1m | Going:Soft | Winners time:1m 43.51s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Of A Nation | Kerrin McEvoy | S Parr | 5 | 9-4 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 7/1 | 2.51 | 2.02 | 1.89 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Stevie Thunder | P J McDonald | G A Swinbank | 7 | 9-1 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 4/6F | 1.2 | 1.15 | 1.07 | 1.01 | 2 | hd |
| When Yer Ready | Duran Fentiman | T D Easterby | 10 | 8-1 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 18/1 | 6.2 | 4.58 | 2.44 | 1.01 | 3 | 3½ |
| Hyde Lea Flyer | Joe Fanning | E S McMahon | 11 | 9-4 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 8/1 | 2.36 | 2.07 | 1.81 | 1.21 | 4 | 1¾ |
| Tiger's Rocket | Jamie Jones | S Gollings | 3 | 8-9 | 3 | 0 | 70 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 5 |
| Reel Buddy Star | Daniel Tudhope | G M Moore | 8 | 9-4 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 8/1 | 3.2 | 2.31 | 1.63 | 1.6 | 6 | 4 |
| Paint Stripper | Dominic Fox | W Storey | 1 | 8-2 | 3 | 0 | 61 | 20/1 | 5.7 | 4.91 | 2.81 | 4.8 | 7 | nk |
Spirit Of A Nation held up in mid-division, headway over 3f out, challenged over 1f out, stayed on to lead near finish
Stevie Thunder led 1f, tracked leader, led over 2f out, shaken up and headed near finish
When Yer Ready held up in rear, headway 3f out, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong
Hyde Lea Flyer took keen hold, led after 1f, headed over 2f out, hung left and weakened approaching final furlong
Tiger´s Rocket tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, lost place over 1f out
Reel Buddy Star held up in rear, headway 3f out, lost place over 1f out
Paint Stripper chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakened over 2f out
SPIRIT OF A NATION had certainly improved with each run in maiden company and showed further progress on this step up in trip on his handicap debut, waited with, making ground from halfway and staying on under pressure to lead near the finish. He is the sort to continue to improve with racing and he will get further in time so he should land further success in handicap company.
That said, he was slightly fortunate here as favourite Stevie Thunder travelled notably well, prominent behind the good pace, and looked the most likely winner when he went on over 2f out. But his jockey seemed at pains to do no more than necessary in front and did not get after his mount until he was strongly pressed well inside the final 1f, by which point he only had enough time to give him a couple of cracks of the whip and he could not quite hold off the winner. He had been progressing very well prior to this, beat the rest comfortably enough here and looks well up to winning again before the handicapper takes his measure.
Hyde Lea Flyer also made a promising start to his second season, leading after 1f until over 2f out, and is likely to progress again. Tiger's Rocket was one of the more exposed runners in this field and probably needs some help from the handicapper.
Reel Buddy Star was never able to challenge and may not have been suited by the soft surface, while Paint Stripper was a shade keen and did not seem to get home on this step up in trip.
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