Towerform - John Smith's Northumberland Plate (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)Towerform grade 1

UK Racing Info


Race details

Course: NEWCASTLERace date:28/06/08Race time:3:20Runners:18
Race distance:2mGoing:SoftWinners time:3m 37.71s

Race results


HorseJockeyTrainerStallWeightAgeRPROROddsB HighB AveB LowIn runFinishedDist Behind
Arc Bleu Adrian T NichollsA J Martin68-2708514/1 5.83.932.451.01 1
Halla San Paul HanaganR A Fahey128-10609316/1 8.45.5641.01 2hd
Bogside Theatre D O´DonohoeG M Moore58-4408710/1 4.673.4831.01 3¾
Akarem Fergus SweeneyK R Burke188-6708950/1 1812.437.271.01 4nk
Gee Dee Nen T P QueallyM H Tompkins168-7509020/1 8.036.172.736 5
Bollin Derek Paul FesseyT D Easterby198-1508428/1 11.456.9565.5 6½
Mudawin John EganJ S Goldie138-7709040/1 14.311.966.949.2 7½
Missoula Sam HitchcottMiss Suzy Smith48-7509016/1 5.94.713.093.2 8½
Far From Old T GilletJ E Hammond99-0509710/1 4.43.93.051.5 9½
Inchnadamph Paul MulrennanT J Fitzgerald78-6808950/1 14.510.985.282.3 10shd
Tilt Tom EavesB Ellison118-1060939/1 3.73.172.82 11¾
Double Banded Seb SandersJ L Dunlop148-10409310/1 4.223.512.981.98 126
Carte Diamond Joe FanningB Ellison179-97010612/1 4.93.92.683.3 1310
Bukit Tinggi Philip RobinsonM A Jarvis38-4408711/2 2.822.491.972 1416
Desert Sea Alan MunroD W P Arbuthnot158-7509014/1 4.83.893.042.86 1518
Whispering Death Royston FfrenchJ Howard Johnson208-5608825/1 86.373.315.9 169
Rationale William BuickS C Williams88-2508520/1 8.45.994.526.6 1713
Highland Legacy Jamie SpencerM L W Bell28-1240954/1F 2.582.091.91.47 18



Non runners:


Comments in running

Arc Bleu held up inside, headway when switched left well over 1f out, switched right approaching final furlong, kept on well final furlong, led close home

Halla San midfield, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, kept on well, caught close home

Bogside Theatre led, ridden clear 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on under pressure

Akarem held up in touch, effort over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong

Gee Dee Nen held up, effort over 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish

Bollin Derek in touch, driven from over 5f out, rallied, kept on same pace over 1f out

Mudawin behind until stayed on from 2f out, nearest finish

Missoula midfield, ridden over 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge

Far From Old held up, effort on outside over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong

Inchnadamph chased leaders, effort over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong

Tilt in touch, ridden 3f out, no extra over 1f out

Double Banded held up, ridden 3f out, beaten over 1f out

Carte Diamond soon with leader, ridden 3f out, soon weakened

Bukit Tinggi close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out

Desert Sea held up, struggling 5f out, soon beaten

Whispering Death behind and soon pushed along, no chance final 4f

Rationale behind, lost touch from over 4f out

Highland Legacy in touch on inside, effort when hampered twice over 2f out, soon beaten and eased




Analyis of the race

The richest staying handicap in Europe was a typically competitive affair. With four non-runners since declaration-time, ARC BLEU, originally first reserve, got into this race by the skin of his teeth. From a stable which is renowned for winning major handicaps, he was a popular fancy among punters until hours before the race when, for some reason, he drifted like the proverbial barge, being returned at twice the odds he was during the morning.

That negativity certainly did not affect his chances.Ridden patiently from off the pace, he began to thread through the leaders from three furlongs out. Briefly denied a clear run entering the last, he was pulled around the runner-up and stayed on strongly to lead near the line. A horse who has had precious little racing on the Flat in recent seasons, he was more than a match for this test. It remains to be seen just how much more improvement there is to come from him, both on the Flat and over hurdles.

Halla San ran an absolute blinder in second. Moving into contention full of running, he got a peach of a run up the rails and, having battled his way into the lead late on, was caught by the winner even later. Bogside Theatre made most of the running and was harried by Carte Diamond for much of the trip; she ran a cracker, keeping on gamely all the way to the line.

Gee Dee Nen came through a wall of horses inside the last quarter-mile to be nearest at the finish; he is a thorough stayer.

Bollin Derek, another who got into this race as a reserve, clearly benefited from his recent comeback outing and produced a fine performance, only failing to quicken in the closing stages.

Mudawin, having his first run of the season back on the Flat, stayed on strongly from the rear to be nearest at the finish. Missoula, coming into this after winning the Ascot Stakes, was unable to shrug-off her 5lb penalty in such tough company andin a race coming so soon after Ascot.

Far From Old never got in a blow. Of the others, Double Banded was unable to get really competitive when the chips were down, while Carte Diamond, having traded punches with the pace-setter, was sending out distress signals once in line for home.

Bukit Tinggi may have been feeling the effects of his Ascot exertions, and also different ground to contend with. Highland Legacy was most disappointing, being ridden to try and get into it in the home straight and then, when he was clearly held, being hampered before being eased.


Tote

Tote Win: 0
Tote place (1): 3.8
Tote place (2): 5.7
Tote place (3): 2.4
Tote place (4): 9.6
Exacta: 604.2
CSF: 214.3
Total SP: 128

Further Information

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Overview

UK Racing Info

For overview statistics for Adrian Massey or Flatstats or Towerform