| Course: AINTREE | Race date:13/06/08 | Race time:7:10 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:3m½f | Going:Good | Winners time:6m 8.80s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always Waining | T J O´Brien | P Bowen | 11-12 | 7 | 0 | 120 | 11/2 | 2.66 | 2.26 | 1.69 | 1.01 | 1 | ||
| Charlie Crab | Keith Mercer | T P Tate | 11-7 | 5 | 0 | 115 | 3/1F | 2.78 | 2.08 | 1.77 | 1.01 | 2 | 2¼ | |
| Tickateal | Brian Hughes | R D E Woodhouse | 10-6 | 8 | 0 | 100 | 8/1 | 4 | 3.44 | 1.86 | 1.1 | 3 | nk | |
| Apollo Creed | P J Brennan | N A Twiston-Davies | 10-9 | 6 | 0 | 103 | 7/2 | 2.14 | 1.8 | 1.44 | 1.2 | 4 | 2½ | |
| Polly Whitefoot | Garry Whillans | D W Whillans | 9-8 | 9 | 0 | 98 | 16/1 | 6.2 | 5.44 | 3.12 | 1.4 | 5 | 4½ | |
| Chickapeakray | Jason Maguire | D McCain Jnr | 11-6 | 7 | 0 | 114 | 11/2 | 2.6 | 2.42 | 1.7 | 1.31 | 6 | 53 | |
| Celtic Heather | R L Butler | Carl Llewellyn | 10-3 | 7 | 0 | 100 | 14/1 | 8.8 | 6.97 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 7 | 2½ | |
| Sarin | A Coleman | Miss Venetia Williams | 10-13 | 10 | 0 | 112 | 10/1 | 4.57 | 3.58 | 2.83 | 3.1 | 8 | 12 | |
| In Dream's | Barry Keniry | G M Moore | 11-1 | 6 | 0 | 109 | 14/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 9 | 7 |
Always Waining midfield, headway when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, led last, stayed on well towards finish
Charlie Crab held up, niggled along approaching 8th, not fluent 9th, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, hit 2 out, soon hung left, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, not trouble winner
Tickateal tracked leaders, challenged from 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, pressed winner last, stayed on same pace run-in
Apollo Creed held up, headway after 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra final 100yds
Polly Whitefoot tracked leaders, ridden to challenge from 3 out, weakened final 100yds
Chickapeakray prominent, led 3rd, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, eased run-in
Celtic Heather in touch, close up after 4 out, ridden to press leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out, mistake when no danger last
Sarin held up, headway when not fluent 8th, soon lost place and struggling
In Dream´s led to 3rd, remained prominent, weakened after 4 out
That said, ALWAYS WAINING is currently rated 16lb lower over hurdles than he is over fences and he showed himself in the form to take advantage, making headway when less than fluent three out then keeping on to lead atthe last flight for a workmanlike success. He will face a stiffer task at the weights when reverting to chasing in the Summer National at Uttoxeter but will be suited by the thorough test of stamina and should give a decent account in a race his trainer has won twice previously.
Charlie Crab was the least experienced in the field and ran a decent race on his return from more than five months out of action. However, he was outpaced from the eighth flight and then hung left after a mistake two out but stayed on to take second late on without threatening the winner. He has hung and tried to refuse in the past and is clearly less than straightforward but clearly has ability.
Polly Whitefoot also ran creditably without allaying the impression that he is high enough in the weights.
The ground may not have been soft enough for Chickapeakray.
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