| Course: WINDSOR | Race date:07/07/08 | Race time:8:00 | Runners:9 |
| Race distance:1m2f | Going:Soft | Winners time:2m 17.81s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Lord | Dane O´Neill | A King | 7 | 9-7 | 4 | 0 | 78 | 16/1 | 6.2 | 4.71 | 3.85 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Folio | Stephen Donohoe | W J Musson | 6 | 9-6 | 8 | 0 | 77 | 25/1 | 7.6 | 6.34 | 4.4 | 1.01 | 2 | ½ |
| Samsons Son | L P Keniry | J R Best | 9 | 10-0 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 20/1 | 7.6 | 5.51 | 2.84 | 1.01 | 3 | 1 |
| Closertobelieving | T Quinn | D R C Elsworth | 3 | 8-10 | 3 | 0 | 78 | 5/2 | 1.66 | 1.46 | 1.39 | 1.29 | 4 | 1¼ |
| Artreju | Ryan Moore | G L Moore | 8 | 9-1 | 5 | 0 | 72 | 11/1 | 3.7 | 3.36 | 2.84 | 1.13 | 5 | ¾ |
| Dear Maurice | Seb Sanders | E A L Dunlop | 2 | 10-0 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 5/4F | 1.38 | 1.28 | 1.2 | 1.04 | 6 | nse |
| No To Trident | Pat Cosgrave | P D Evans | 1 | 8-13 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 18/1 | 7.8 | 5.48 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 7 | 6 |
| Silver Blue | Catherine Gannon | W K Goldsworthy | 5 | 8-13 | 5 | 0 | 70 | 10/1 | 3.6 | 3.01 | 1.43 | 2.04 | 8 | 6 |
| Royal Island | Vince Slattery | M G Quinlan | 4 | 9-7 | 6 | 0 | 78 | 16/1 | 5.9 | 4.59 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 5 |
There was a sense of irony about the success of SAM LORD, who had proved a runawaywhen bought to go hurdling last winter. Perseverence has finally been rewarded back on the Flat where he had some useful juvenile form with John Gosden - beating Diamond Tycoon in his maiden. He was not beaten far trying to give 7lb to Camps Heath, who is holding his own this season off a mark in the high 90s, so his easing mark in the high 70s could be construed as handy. His resolution in a finish has been questioned but back over a tactical 1m2f he had too much speed for his rivals in the final furlong and saw it out well. He is due to head for the sales.
Folio stayed on from last to first inside the final furlong before being outbattled by his closest rival down the midtrack line, which had yielded the previous winner.
Closertobelieving would have been placed but for being squeezed out inside the final furlong. Whether he would have won is debatable but he was staying on along with the first two, giving the impression he wouldn't have been beaten half a length, which was backed up by him staying on again after the interference. He was surprisingly flat to the boards and not making inroads early in the straight which compounded his position but he was staying on strongly and remains a progressive colt, who should soon make amends.
Dear Maurice was perfectly placed through the race but the combination of the longer trip and softer ground looked to find him out rather than the handicapper's relentless pursuit. He deserves another chance back at 1m on better ground.
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