| Course: EPSOM | Race date:07/06/08 | Race time:3:15 | Runners:19 |
| Race distance:5f | Going:Good | Winners time:ms |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holbeck Ghyll | William Buick | A M Balding | 8 | 8-7 | 6 | 99 | 85 | 15/2 | 2.9 | 2.77 | 2.5 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Merlin's Dancer | John Egan | S Dow | 19 | 8-5 | 8 | 96 | 83 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | ½ |
| Safari Mischief | Luke Morris | P Winkworth | 12 | 8-5 | 5 | 97 | 86 | 17/2 | 4.1 | 3.36 | 2.83 | 1.3 | 3 | ½ |
| Hogmaneigh | Saleem Golam | S C Williams | 17 | 9-8 | 5 | 109 | 100 | 9/2F | 2.52 | 2.34 | 2.14 | 1.21 | 4 | ½ |
| Masta Plasta | Adele Rothery | D Nicholls | 6 | 9-1 | 5 | 108 | 100 | 7/1 | 3.4 | 2.88 | 2.44 | 1.2 | 5 | nk |
| Fathom Five | Paul Mulrennan | B Smart | 20 | 9-5 | 4 | 104 | 97 | 8/1 | 3.5 | 3.11 | 2.66 | 1.79 | 6 | nk |
| Strike Up The Band | Silvestre De Sousa | D Nicholls | 7 | 8-13 | 5 | 97 | 91 | 18/1 | 6.6 | 5.82 | 4.6 | 2 | 7 | nk |
| Bond City | Alan Munro | G R Oldroyd | 9 | 9-0 | 6 | 96 | 92 | 20/1 | 5.5 | 5.07 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 8 | ½ |
| Northern Empire | N Callan | K A Ryan | 10 | 9-2 | 5 | 95 | 94 | 20/1 | 5.9 | 5.07 | 4 | 1.83 | 9 | ¾ |
| Tournedos | Adrian T Nicholls | D Nicholls | 4 | 9-4 | 6 | 92 | 96 | 12/1 | 5.4 | 4.44 | 3.25 | 3.7 | 10 | 1½ |
| Hereford Boy | Kirsty Milczarek | D K Ivory | 5 | 8-1 | 4 | 77 | 82 | 40/1 | 13 | 10.29 | 6.01 | 9.8 | 11 | nk |
| Steelcut | David Probert | R A Fahey | 13 | 7-7 | 4 | 72 | 78 | 33/1 | 8.6 | 6.67 | 5 | 0 | 12 | nk |
| Magic Glade | Patrick Mathers | Peter Grayson | 16 | 8-2 | 9 | 72 | 80 | 40/1 | 13.5 | 11.14 | 8.4 | 12 | 13 | ½ |
| Canadian Danehill | L Dettori | R M H Cowell | 18 | 9-3 | 6 | 84 | 95 | 16/1 | 6.8 | 5.34 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 14 | ¾ |
| Morinqua | T P Queally | J G Given | 1 | 9-3 | 4 | 83 | 95 | 16/1 | 5.9 | 4.81 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 15 | nk |
| Evens And Odds | Neil Brown | K A Ryan | 15 | 9-5 | 4 | 88 | 102 | 11/1 | 6.6 | 5.16 | 3.85 | 3.75 | 16 | ½ |
| Ocean Blaze | Adrian McCarthy | B R Millman | 3 | 8-2 | 4 | 64 | 80 | 25/1 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 5.7 | 0 | 17 | ¾ |
| Bigalos Bandit | Simon Whitworth | D Nicholls | 11 | 8-4 | 6 | 65 | 82 | 50/1 | 26 | 16.36 | 6.4 | 0 | 18 | nk |
| Diane's Choice | T P O´Shea | Miss Gay Kelleway | 14 | 8-4 | 5 | 60 | 82 | 50/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 19 | 1¼ |
Holbeck Ghyll switched right after start, chased leaders, ridden 1f out, led last 100yds, ran on well
Merlin´s Dancer led stands' side, every chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken last 100yds
Safari Mischief raced in midfield, ridden halfway, ran on to press leaders inside final furlong, kept on
Hogmaneigh steadied start, behind on stands' rail, headway 2f out, ran on final furlong, not quite reach leaders
Masta Plasta led in centre and overall, ridden and headed last 100yds, faded towards finish
Fathom Five taken down early, slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
Strike Up The Band chased leaders, chased overall leader over 1f out until inside final furlong, faded towards finish
Bond City slowly into stride, behind, stayed on under pressure from over 1f out, never reached leaders
Northern Empire restless stalls, burst through gate and awkward start, soon switched right, headway halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Tournedos taken down early, raced in midfield, ridden and effort 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
Hereford Boy slowly into stride, always towards rear, staying on when switched left inside final furlong, never dangerous
Steelcut prominent until halfway, soon struggling
Magic Glade taken down early, restless stalls, chased leaders until halfway, steadily weakened
Canadian Danehill raced in midfield, struggling halfway, no chance after
Morinqua chased overall leader in centre pair until over 1f out, soon weakened
Evens And Odds raced in midfield, struggling halfway, soon behind
Ocean Blaze chased leaders until over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
Bigalos Bandit slowly into stride, always behind
Diane´s Choice always behind
The draw didnot look important, and with the field spread out early with low numbers initially blazing away midtrack, there were none of the old hard luck stories when this field used to bunch near the stands' rail for the faster strip on watered ground.
HOLBECK GHYLL, an unlucky fourth last year, came into this in top form but 10lb higher and not looking well handicapped on past race form. He broke well this year and was given a cool ride, sitting just off the strong pace set midtrack by Morinqua and Masta Plasta and Merlin's Dancer hard against the stands' rail.
He is already 5lb higher in future, and while that suggests he is going to be hard to place, he has proved most progressive this year and confirmed it again here in reversing last year's form with plenty of these. He enjoys these downhill tracks, although he was hanging from an early stage here. The Stewards' Cup looks a natural target as he has run well there generally while he is also in the Shergar Cup sprint. As he handles faster ground, he remains one to keep on the right side.
Merlin's Dancer, eighth last year off a 12lb higher mark, had the draw and showed he is ready to strike again off his falling mark.
Safari Mischief has been rising the ratings for his good start to the year but again showed he is another youngish sprinter on the upgrade as he kept on to the line.
Last year's winner Hogmaniegh burst back to form, tracking the leaders against the stands' rail and finishing off strongly without being able to land a blow. He was only 1lb higher than last year and has run another sound race. He could not win last year after being raised into three figures and remains exposed to improving dark horses in this sphere.
Fathom Five was always chasing the pace but could not find the extra kick in the final furlong, suggesting the handicapper has caught up with him after his good 2007. The ground was drying up against him and he remains of interest for the autumn.
Stirke Up The Band showed plenty of dash, deciding to cross over from his low draw and he looks ready to strike form.
Bond City, seventh last year and 9lb lower, did not get the run of the race, seemingly put off when neighbour Nortnern Empire anticipated the start and burst out flyleaping and losing ground, He looked put off and was slowly away and could neverland a blow but was staying on well in the chasing pack.
After his unfortunate start, Northern Empire has done well to finish on the heels of this front group which finished clear of the rest.
There were no hard luck stories in the back pack, although Hereford Boy had to switch wide midtrack to get running room to the final furlong and stayed on steadily. (BJ)
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