| Course: SANDOWN | Race date:29/05/08 | Race time:6:10 | Runners:8 |
| Race distance:1m2f | Going:Good To Soft | Winners time:2m 11.97s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjabi | Eddie Ahern | N J Henderson | 10 | 9-1 | 5 | 0 | 81 | 10/11F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Dakiyah | Paul Doe | Mrs L J Mongan | 6 | 8-11 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 1¾ |
| Mustajed | James Millman | B R Millman | 3 | 8-13 | 7 | 0 | 84 | 16/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | 5 |
| Trans Siberian | Francis Norton | P F I Cole | 7 | 9-2 | 4 | 0 | 82 | 6/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | hd |
| Aegean Prince | Patrick Hills | R Hannon | 11 | 8-8 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 2¼ |
| Krugerrand | Neil Pollard | W J Musson | 9 | 8-5 | 9 | 0 | 71 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 10 |
| Novikov | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 1 | 9-2 | 4 | 0 | 82 | 10/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 7 | 14 |
| Red Somerset | Richard Hughes | R J Hodges | 5 | 9-2 | 5 | 0 | 82 | 15/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 8 | 13 |
Punjabi held up in touch, headway from 3f out, led approaching final furlong, stayed on
Dakiyah led until ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on but no impression after
Mustajed always in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
Trans Siberian chased leaders, ridden and kept on one pace inside final 2f
Aegean Prince steadied start, headway over 2f out, not quicken from over 1f out
Krugerrand always in rear and lost touch 2f out
Novikov raced wide, tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Red Somerset always in rear, well behind 2f out, eased final furlong
The betting was very one-sided, and no wonder, for the classy hurdler PUNJABI still looked thrown in under the penalty for last week's Newmarket win - effectively just a 4lb penalty as he had carried 2lb overweight that day - as he was already due to go up another 7lb from tomorrow onwards. The softer ground was no worry judged on his hurdlesform, and nor was the shorter trip, as 1m4f arguably stretched him at Newmarket.
Patiently ridden as usual, he challenged front-running Dakiyah going into the last 2f and was on top before the furlong marker. He should not be going up much more for this win and will now be rested for a tilt at the John Smith's Cup at York, where he will still be well treated on hurdles form. Yarmouth second Dakiyah disputed the lead down the far side and was in front round the turn. She handled the ground well andfinished nicely clear of the rest, but unfortunately she will be in for a fair hike up the ratings now for finishing so close to a handicap snip.
He just got the better of lightly raced Windsor winner Trans Siberian, who probably found the softish ground against him, andWindsor runner-up Aegean Prince, who had a good chance of reversing the placings strictly at the weights.
There were jumping distances back to the rest, with Krugerrand failing to confirm Windsor promise, blinkered-first-time Novikov weakening very quickly in the final 2f after racing wide down the far side and closest to the rail in the straight, and Red Somerset particularly disappointing.
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