Towerform - Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1)Towerform grade 1

UK Racing Info


Race details

Course: NEWMARKETRace date:18/10/08Race time:2:05Runners:15
Race distance:7fGoing:GoodWinners time:1m 22.48s

Race results


HorseJockeyTrainerStallWeightAgeRPROROddsB HighB AveB LowIn runFinishedDist Behind
Stimulation Darryll HollandH Morrison129-131181149/2F NANANANA 1
Cat Junior Jamie SpencerB J Meehan149-131151159/1 NANANANA 2
Laa Rayb Royston FfrenchM Johnston59-3411311515/2 NANANANA 3½
Balthazaar's Gift Dane O´NeillL M Cumani119-3510911020/1 NANANANA 4
Express Wish Shane KellyJ Noseda29-3410810416/1 NANANANA 5hd
Duff K J ManningEdward Lynam19-35108016/1 NANANANA 6shd
Captain Marvelous R HillsB W Hills49-3410710040/1 NANANANA 7shd
Summit Surge J MurtaghG M Lyons109-34107020/1 NANANANA 8shd
Major Cadeaux Richard HughesR Hannon179-741081155/1 NANANANA 9
Royal Confidence Michael HillsB W Hills158-1239410314/1 NANANANA 10
Baharah Hayley TurnerG A Butler139-049311120/1 NANANANA 11nk
Ordnance Row Ryan MooreR Hannon39-35921098/1 NANANANA 12
Il Warrd L DettoriSaeed Bin Suroor79-13901097/1 NANANANA 131
Racer Forever O PeslierJ H M Gosden89-357910816/1 NANANANA 144
Sharp Nephew Martin DwyerB J Meehan169-13639966/1 NANANANA 156



Non runners:


Comments in running

Stimulation raced far side, chased leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on

Cat Junior raced far side, overall leader, ridden over 1f out, headed and unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 6 in group

Laa Rayb raced stands' side, chased leader, ridden to lead that group 1f out, edged right, ran on, 1st of 9 in group

Balthazaar´s Gift raced stands' side, slowly into stride, held up, headway over 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders, 2nd of 9 in group

Express Wish raced stands' side, held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on, 3rd of 9 in group

Duff led stands' side, ridden and headed 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 9 in group

Captain Marvelous raced stands' side, held up in touch, outpaced over 2f out, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders, 5th of 9 in group

Summit Surge chased leader in centre until hung to stands' side over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 9 in group

Major Cadeaux raced far side, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 6 in group

Royal Confidence raced far side, slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6 in group

Baharah raced far side, held up, ridden over 2f out, always in rear, 5th of 6th in group

Ordnance Row raced stands' side, chased leaders until ridden over 2f out, soon weakened 7th of 9 in group

Il Warrd led centre pair until ridden and weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9 in group

Racer Forever raced stands' side, held up, effort 2f out, soon weakened, last of 9 in group

Sharp Nephew raced far side, held up in touch, pulled hard, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 6 in group




Analyis of the race

The ground had dried out overnight so that ‘good to firm in places' appeared in the description, but to offset that they were racing on fresh ground, having not used the stands' side part of the course since May. There was a breeze behind the runners in the straight. A competitive renewal of this Group 2 but a race that has often thrown up a surprise winner, with four at 20-1 and one at 16-1 this century. However, on this occasion it fell to the well-backed favourite STIMULATION, who won the Free Handicap over course and distance in the spring and, although the 2,000 Guineas may have come a bit early in his career, he had been running creditably in Group company since. Always close to the pace on the far side, he found plenty when asked to assert andscored cosily. He looks the sort who will get a mile at four and, relatively lightly raced, could make the step up to the highest level next season.

Cat Junior, who was dropping in trip, made the running on the far side and held off all apart fromthe winner. This was his first placing at Group level, and, like the winner, he may have more to offer with another winter behind him.

Although the first two raced on the far side, the next five home were in the group racing stands' side. Laa Raybhas been steadily progressive this season and did best of that group, having been close up but never able to get near the pair on the far side. There was a close finish for fourth, with Balthazaar's Gift, who had not run over 7f since finishing fourth in this race last year, repeating the feat with the headgear he has worn of late left off; he missed the break but is usually held up anyway.

Front-running Irish raider Duff led up the stands' rail but was in trouble coming out of the Dip, although he was only run out of the places near the finish. Captain Marvelous, with cheekpiecesreplacing the blinkers he wore on his previous start, ran a fine race on ground which may have been on the fast side for him, especially as he raced more towards the centre of the track and had to come from off the pace.

Summit Surge was another to race towards the centre of the track and had his chance before hanging left, then running out of steam up the hill.

Major Cadeaux, carrying a 4lb penalty, got a good lead into the race on the far side from the principals, but may have found the ground faster than he prefers, while Royal Confidence, representing a yard that had won this three times in the last ten years, came into this off the back of a win but missed the break and never got involved, a comment that also applies to the other filly Baharah.

Ordnance Row probably found the combination of a drop in trip and faster ground not playing to his strengths, while Il Warrd raced up with the pace towards the centre of the track but was in trouble going into the Dip.

*Ordnance Row was reported to have been unsuited by the track.

*Il Warrd was struck into early. [AR]


Tote

Tote Win: 0
Tote place (1): 2.8
Tote place (2): 4.4
Exacta: 48.2
Total SP: 122

Further Information

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Overview

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