| Course: CHESTER | Race date:08/05/08 | Race time:1:45 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:1m2½f | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:2m 10.71s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mull Of Dubai | John Egan | T P Tate | 9 | 8-4 | 5 | 97 | 86 | 13/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Escape Route | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 7 | 9-1 | 4 | 106 | 97 | 9/4F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 1 |
| Vainglory | Richard Mullen | D M Simcock | 8 | 8-7 | 4 | 93 | 89 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 2¼ |
| Bahar Shumaal | Ahmed Ajtebi | C E Brittain | 5 | 7-13 | 6 | 89 | 86 | 4/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | ¾ |
| Prince Forever | Philip Robinson | M A Jarvis | 4 | 9-4 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 1¼ |
| Hoh Wotanite | T P O´Shea | R Hollinshead | 6 | 8-4 | 5 | 82 | 86 | 33/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 2 |
| Ella Woodcock | Paul Hanagan | E J Alston | 3 | 8-4 | 4 | 79 | 86 | 22/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 1¾ |
| Philanthropy | D O´Donohoe | K A Ryan | 1 | 8-5 | 4 | 44 | 87 | 8/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 18 |
| Temple Place | Ryan Moore | D McCain Jnr | 2 | 8-10 | 7 | 42 | 92 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 3¼ |
This looked a weak affair for its class level with plenty having something to prove, none more so than the top-weight Prince Forever, who failed to answer in the affirmative on a first try at this longer trip.
This was notable for a strong pace set by Philanthropy and Bahar Shumaal, who raced up to ten lengths clear of the pack even into the final four furlongs before the picture changed dramatically into the fale running rail stretch.
MULL OF DUBAI has enjoyed cut in the ground but burst up the vacant lane when the false rail ran out to go a couple of lengths clear. He thrives on a strongly-run race and was undone on his seasonal return by a slow pace and that will remain his achilles heel. He had struggled when rated in the 90s but was eased into this. On the face of it, this was a career best run so any rerise may not stop him for his new trainer.
Escape Route came wider into the straight and it got tight with Ella Woodcock and Vainglory holding a chance. He has done nothing wrong but could not match thewinner's initial burst before edging closer under strong pressure in the final 100 yards.
Vainglory was racing off a higher turf mark than when beaten on it before his good all-weather campaign and he does not look quite as good on turf, although he has shown some of his best form at a mile and, after racing keenly early, his run flattened out in the final furlong.
Bahar Shumaal helped set the strong pace outside Philanthropy, and while that rival paid for the pace before the home turn, Bahar Shumaal still travelled well but was held together as the pack closed rapidly. He battled away as is his style without having the pace to go with the first two but he deserves credit for holding fourth. Unfortunately that is becoming his refrain and he looks to need further help from the forgiving handicapper.
Hoh Wotanite clearly enjoyed the drying conditions and was noted travelling well buried on the rail in the pack. He didn't get the clearest run into the bend and flattened out in the final furlong. A return to 1m may bring reward on drying ground soon.Temple Place planted himself as the stalls opened and gave them fully 6l start. In a strongly-run race, he could never land a blow and the run is best forgotten but not the show of temperament.
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