| Course: CURRAGH | Race date:29/06/08 | Race time:3:10 | Runners:6 |
| Race distance:6f | Going:Good To Yielding | Winners time:1m 13.20s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastercraftsman | J Murtagh | A P O´Brien | 3 | 9-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8/11F | NA | NA | NA | NA | 1 | |
| Alhaban | D P McDonogh | Kevin Prendergast | 2 | 9-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | shd |
| Intense Focus | K J Manning | J S Bolger | 5 | 9-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11/4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3 | nk |
| Sea Of Marmara | J A Heffernan | A P O´Brien | 6 | 9-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | 7 |
| Beauthea | C D Hayes | H Rogers | 4 | 8-12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 5 | 10 |
| Egypt | C O´Donoghue | A P O´Brien | 1 | 9-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 6 | 1¼ |
Mastercraftsman tracked leaders in 5th, close 3rd 1 1/2f out, ridden to narrowly lead inside final furlong, kept on well, all out
Alhaban disputed lead before halfway, headed 1 1/2f out, disputed lead briefly 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, kept on well, just failed
Intense Focus chased leaders in 3rd, led briefly 1 1/2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, kept on
Sea Of Marmara led, joined before halfway, headed 2f out, soon no impression
Beauthea slowly away and trailing, soon eased, pushed out to take 5th close home
Egypt chased leaders in 4th, ridden after halfway, weakened from 1 1/2f out
MASTERCRAFTSMAN became trainer Aidan O'Brien's tenth winner of this race, despite still being pretty green. Tracking the lead, Johnny Murtagh could have been more comfortable at about the halfway stage, but when he was really asked to race he quickened quite well and ran on well up the hill. He should keep improving and is crying out for an extra furlong. He looks a good colt but how good at this stage is uncertain.
Alhaban was something of a revelation. He won an ordinary maiden on testing ground here in April and with Declan McDonogh sticking like glue to the stands' side rail throughout, this Verglas colt showed both plenty of pace and plenty of resolution to run the favourite to the narrowest of margins. He looked as though he knew his job a bit more than the winner, and did have the rail to help him, but like the winner he looks like he'll get 7f and beyond. He's an interesting colt.
The first three were totally dominant and finished well clear. Sea Of Marmara led early before fading two furlongs out while stable companion Egypt was the first horse beaten.
The only filly in the race, Beauthea, left her race in the stalls when she walked out of them, and not for the first time. She eventually came home well enough to beat one home. [JOH]
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