| Course: NEWBURY | Race date:03/07/08 | Race time:7:55 | Runners:8 |
| Race distance:7f | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:1m 25.53s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Sport | Edward Creighton | M R Channon | 6 | 8-5 | 3 | 0 | 103 | EvensF | 1.55 | 1.29 | 1.22 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Al Muheer | Martin Dwyer | C E Brittain | 8 | 8-5 | 3 | 0 | 97 | 25/1 | 13.5 | 6.14 | 3.15 | 1.01 | 2 | ½ |
| Red Alert Day | Shane Kelly | S A Callaghan | 2 | 8-5 | 3 | 0 | 105 | 7/2 | 1.64 | 1.54 | 1.37 | 1.01 | 3 | ½ |
| Vitznau | Ryan Moore | R Hannon | 3 | 8-13 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 6/1 | 2.06 | 1.88 | 1.74 | 1.77 | 4 | 2½ |
| Eisteddfod | Nelson De Souza | P F I Cole | 1 | 9-2 | 7 | 0 | 106 | 7/1 | 2.88 | 2.26 | 1.52 | 1.52 | 5 | 4½ |
| Raptor | Fergus Sweeney | K R Burke | 4 | 9-6 | 5 | 0 | 101 | 14/1 | 5.2 | 3.89 | 2.58 | 1.4 | 6 | 3¼ |
| Rubacuori | Luke Morris | J M P Eustace | 7 | 8-13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50/1 | 50 | 17.08 | 5 | 11.5 | 7 | ¾ |
| Vortex | Micky Fenton | Miss Gay Kelleway | 5 | 8-13 | 9 | 0 | 95 | 25/1 | 7.2 | 5.98 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 8 | 19 |
Atlantic Sport in touch, not clear run just over 2f out, burst through gap over 1f out, ran on well to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
Al Muheer soon led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, rallied gamely, held near finish
Red Alert Day held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra
Vitznau restrained start, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on but never troubled leaders
Eisteddfod broke well, prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Raptor tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Rubacuori in touch, punched along from halfway, never going pace to challenge
Vortex chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased when beaten, dismounted after line
As such ATLANTIC SPORT, who was trapped behind the front-runners, deserves plenty of credit for this comeback win and he oozed class, winning a shade cosily just pushed out after being shown the whip a couple of times as he weaved through. There's plenty of speed in his family so he was well equipped for such a race and though this was his delayed seasonal reappearance, he looked very fit for this return.
While the bare form is a long way removed from his Group 1 entries (including the Sussex Stakes), this half-brother to the same connections' star miler Zafeen is held in high regard - he was being trained for the 2,000 Guineas before niggling problems. Fast ground is likely to be swerved but he clearly remains a force to be reckoned with, showing he retains both his zest and speed.
Al Muheer, another making his seasonal bow after looking progressive in three runs last year and approaching Listed class, was advantaged in enjoying an uncontested lead. That said he rallied after both the winner and Red Alert Day looked like swamping him for pace to suggest he will enjoy an end-to-end gallop. He looks the type to do well in a big mile handicap on this evidence, especially at a track which suits front-runners.
The older horses looked up against it conceding weight and so it proved. Vitznau, not disgraced in the Wokingham, was not seen to best effect with the way the race was run. Held up last, he kept on well enough without threatening the big three.
It was a surprise Eisteddfod did not take the bull by the horns and he was readily done for speed in the sprint.Brazilian import Rubacuori was most disappointing, under pressure before the sprint kicked in to suggest he was not at home on this ground.
*Vortex, who raced keenly early, was reported to have been struck into behind.
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