| Course: ASCOT | Race date:10/05/08 | Race time:3:20 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:2m | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:3m 26.57s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Suitor | T Quinn | D R C Elsworth | 5 | 9-9 | 4 | 0 | 89 | EvensF | 1.47 | 1.35 | 1.23 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Hue | Kerrin McEvoy | B Ellison | 2 | 8-11 | 7 | 0 | 74 | 11/2 | 2.78 | 2.07 | 1.93 | 1.01 | 2 | 1½ |
| Buster Hyvonen | Oscar Urbina | J R Fanshawe | 3 | 9-8 | 6 | 0 | 85 | 8/1 | 3.1 | 2.66 | 2 | 1.01 | 3 | 3 |
| Plane Painter | Robert Winston | M Johnston | 1 | 8-9 | 4 | 0 | 75 | 9/1 | 3.42 | 2.92 | 2.34 | 1.7 | 4 | 3 |
| Gee Dee Nen | Darryll Holland | M H Tompkins | 9 | 9-11 | 5 | 0 | 88 | 10/1 | 5.9 | 4.17 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Ned Ludd | Jim Crowley | J G Portman | 7 | 9-2 | 5 | 0 | 79 | 14/1 | 4.5 | 3.66 | 2.66 | 3.3 | 6 | 1¼ |
| Gabier | Ryan Moore | G L Moore | 10 | 9-5 | 5 | 0 | 82 | 12/1 | 4.1 | 3.59 | 2.57 | 3.4 | 7 | 1½ |
| Calculating | Hadden Frost | M D I Usher | 6 | 9-2 | 4 | 0 | 87 | 20/1 | 6.6 | 5.55 | 4.1 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| Tribe | Michael Hills | P R Webber | 8 | 8-9 | 6 | 0 | 72 | 25/1 | 11.5 | 8.3 | 5 | 5.2 | 9 | 20 |
Silver Suitor took keen hold early, settled after 2f in 3rd, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on strongly
Hue held up in last pair, smooth progress over 2f out, ridden and chance over 1f out, stayed on but always held final furlong
Buster Hyvonen held up in last trio, smooth progress over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd briefly over 1f out, kept on same pace
Plane Painter tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Gee Dee Nen in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
Ned Ludd mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
Gabier held up in last pair, ridden over 2f out, no impression
Calculating took keen hold in touch, ridden 3f out, edged right and weakened over 1f out
Tribe led until over 2f out, soon weakened, eased final furlong
He has some big-race entries and naturally being a grey in Jeff Smith's colours in the care of David Elsworth, many people refer tohim as the new Persian Punch. He has those sorts of entries, including the Ascot Gold Cup (Hills went a speculative 40-1) and the Henry II Stakes at Sandown could be his next port of call.
He has a huge leap to make to Group level from this bare form but he is an unexposed lightly raced sort and the way he ground out this win, firmly on top in the final furlong after looking likely to be challenged strongly 2f out suggests staying is his game. Certainly at this stage, 40-1 for the Gold Cup is not generous after this win off 89 and it was a pity that a similarly progressive stayer, Gala Evening, did not take up the engagement off top weight.
Buster Hyvonen, raised in defeat and 10lb higher back on turf than when placed in April, ran his usual game race but this recent winning hurdler was put in his place before the final furlong while beating the rest well.
Plane Painter chased the sound pace set by Tribe but was outclassed.
Gee Dee Nen was conceding race fitness to his rivals and as such was not disgraced and can build on the bare form.
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