| Course: SANDOWN | Race date:05/07/08 | Race time:2:40 | Runners:15 |
| Race distance:1m | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:1m 40.31s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lovelace | Jimmy Fortune | M Johnston | 13 | 9-6 | 4 | 0 | 102 | 18/1 | 7.6 | 5.47 | 4.6 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Ace Of Hearts | Jack Mitchell(5) | C F Wall | 4 | 8-6 | 9 | 0 | 93 | 16/1 | 5.1 | 4.36 | 3.01 | 1.01 | 2 | 1¼ |
| Masaalek | R Hills | M P Tregoning | 14 | 8-8 | 3 | 0 | 99 | 9/2F | 2.12 | 1.95 | 1.62 | 1.01 | 3 | hd |
| Dubai's Touch | Darryll Holland | M Johnston | 1 | 9-4 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 25/1 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 4 | nk |
| Fifteen Love | Richard Hughes | R Charlton | 3 | 8-9 | 3 | 0 | 100 | 15/2 | 3 | 2.61 | 2.06 | 1.18 | 5 | ½ |
| Flipando | Jamie Spencer | T D Barron | 10 | 8-11 | 7 | 0 | 93 | 11/1 | 3.79 | 3.3 | 2.82 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Unshakable | Paul Eddery | Bob Jones | 16 | 8-9 | 9 | 0 | 91 | 16/1 | 5 | 4.11 | 2.84 | 3 | 7 | ¾ |
| Lang Shining | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 9 | 9-5 | 4 | 0 | 101 | 5/1 | 2.45 | 2.15 | 2.02 | 1.94 | 8 | ½ |
| Kavachi | Fergus Sweeney | G L Moore | 15 | 8-8 | 5 | 0 | 90 | 14/1 | 4.2 | 3.76 | 2.74 | 1.12 | 9 | shd |
| Jack Junior | L Dettori | B J Meehan | 17 | 9-4 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 10/1 | 5.27 | 3.88 | 3.05 | 3 | 10 | nse |
| Pinpoint | Adam Kirby | W R Swinburn | 8 | 9-10 | 6 | 0 | 106 | 10/1 | 3.45 | 3.08 | 2.54 | 2 | 11 | nse |
| Farley Star | T Quinn | R Charlton | 7 | 8-8 | 4 | 0 | 90 | 16/1 | 5.5 | 4.56 | 3.14 | 2.5 | 12 | nk |
| Prince Of Light | Eddie Ahern | M Johnston | 11 | 8-8 | 5 | 0 | 90 | 33/1 | 17 | 10.43 | 4.53 | 7 | 13 | nk |
| Bahar Shumaal | Ahmed Ajtebi(5) | C E Brittain | 2 | 8-1 | 6 | 0 | 88 | 16/1 | 7 | 5.03 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 1¼ |
| Celtic Sultan | Ted Durcan | T P Tate | 12 | 9-6 | 4 | 0 | 102 | 14/1 | 5.92 | 4.79 | 4.1 | 4 | 15 | hd |
Lovelace awkward start, took keen hold, held up in about 11th, behind wall of rivals 2f out, good run through over 1f out and again entering final furlong, driven to lead last 150yds, ran on well
Ace Of Hearts tracked leading trio, going well 3f out, effort to lead narrowly over 1f out, hard ridden and headed last 150yds, kept on
Masaalek held up in midfield, progress on inner from over 2f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, upsides inside final furlong, one pace
Dubai´s Touch tracked leader, led 3f out, driven and narrowly headed just over 1f out, stayed on same pace
Fifteen Love steadied start, held up in about 12th, tried to make progress over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out but never able to challenge
Flipando held up in late trio, progress on outer 2f out, hanging badly right and not quicken 1f out, kept on
Unshakable tracked leading pair, lost place and ridden over 2f out, gradually shuffled back over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
Lang Shining soon last and pushed along, under pressure and going nowhere well over 2f out, gradually stayed on, nearest finish
Kavachi held up in midfield on inner, no progress under pressure 2f out, kept on same pace after
Jack Junior well enough placed behind leaders, lost place well over 1f out, one pace and no impression after
Pinpoint took keen hold, held up in about 10th, driven on outer and some progress 2f out, no impression on leaders 1f out, one pace
Farley Star mostly in last pair, ridden 3f out, struggling after, stayed on from over 1f out, nearest finish
Prince Of Light tracked leaders, tried to close over 2f out, still chasing 1f out, faded last 150yds
Bahar Shumaal took keen hold, tracked leaders on outer, losing place when squeezed out well over 1f out
Celtic Sultan led to 3f out, weakened just over 1f out
The form looks rock solid for this level with LOVELACE, already a Group 3 winner, taking advantage of being eased back a few pounds for his Royal Ascot run where his high draw did not help his cause. The extra furlong in a strongly run race also looked of benefit as he scythed through the pack afterinitially being shaken up strongly to get closer going into the last 3f. He burst clear into the last 100yds as the rest bunched and on this showing it would be no surprise if he made the successful step back into Group company. He is in the Totesport International at Ascot in three weeks time and the sponsors shortened him to 14-1 from 33-1. That is not very inviting as he not only picks up a penalty but also has to contend with a return to 7f, whereas the manner of this win suggests he wants a mile. Hewon his Group 3 over 7f at Goodwood where his trainer has such a good record and it will be no surprise if he turns up there again.
Ace Of Hearts is a remarkable nine-year-old. He won this in 2005 off a pound lower mark and was a good second last year off a much higher mark. He has been handicapped by softer ground in many of his races but when he gets fast ground, he is hard to beat. Always chasing the pace, he held off the rest bravely. He remains a threat at this level when getting a sound surface but he has already started edging back up the handicap in defeat.
Much was made of three-year-olds having a poor record in this, but not many take part. The presence of the Britannia pair Fifteen Love and Masaalek made a change. Masaalek turnedthe tables on his Ascot conqueror a shade more than he was entitled to at the revised weights, adding to the impression there was a slight disadvantage in having been drawn high at Ascot. He had to dive to towards the inside rail to get a run through andhad every chance going to the final furlong. He remains admirably consistent.
Fifteen Love has done little wrong off his 7lb mark but the run suggests the handicapper has caught up with this improver. Flipando looked one of the most ill at ease on the ground, running around as he closed late on the midtrack outside of the pack. This was still a better run than recently and suggested the former HUnt Cup winner was on the way back.
Unshakable was squeezed out over a furlong out but was weakening at the time after chasing the pace. He seems to enjoy a little more juice in the ground these days but remains a hardy old veteran.
Lang Shining, disappointing in the Hunt Cup, was never closer than at the line after running a strange race. He dropped a dozen lengths off the leader in last down the back straight. He closed as they quickened up into the last 3f but was hanging and never threatened to land a blow, although he was running on down the midtrack outside in the final furlong, an effort that suggested he wants further on this sort of ground.
Kavachi, after his strong finish in the Hunt Cup, was disappointing and had no excuse of lack of running room although he hugged the inside rail line.
Pinpoint looked uneasy on the ground and made a brief effort 2f out on the midtrack outside before wanting to hang right. Farley Star, last and ridden along early in the straight, plugged on but this relatively lightly raced fillyjust came up shy on this latest step up in standard without being disgraced.
Racing results courtesy of racing post. Please note that ever effort is made to ensure results are correct but I accept no liability for mistakes. The data is provided as a free service.
Please visit my Blog or sign up to my racing forum for the latest news and views.