Racecards
14:20 Newbury
Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (Class A1) (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 5y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Form 213453
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
held up in touch, pushed along on outer 4f out, weakened from 2f out
- Form 065332
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer G A Butler
- Jockey D Holland
tracked leaders, ridden and not much room 3f out, challenged from 2f out, unable to quicken final furlong
- Form 003036
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Ted Durcan
held up in touch, headway on outer 2f out, ridden to chase winner final furlong, stayed on one pace and no real impression
- Form 2/2612-1
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey L Dettori
held up in touch, edged right 3f out, switched to rails and led 2f out, driven out final furlong
- Form 310-224
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer Mrs A Perrett
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
slowly into stride, soon recovered to lead, headed just over 2f out, weakened quickly
- Form 3-02113
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey M Dwyer
slowly into stride, soon recovered to track leader, led briefly and hung badly right from 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Always First
32- Form 1-0234
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
close up in 4th, pushed along 4f out, badly hampered and dropped rear 3f out, not recover
Day Flight
104- Form 114
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey Richard Hughes
slowly into stride, held up in rear but in touch, not much room 3f out, effort 2f out, one pace and no real impression entering final furlong
Verdict
With the participation of John Gosden's pair Percussionist and Day Flight dependant upon overnight rain it may be best to look elsewhere and the vote goes to Sights Of Gold. The selection, a proven performer in this grade, made a belated winning return to action when landing a conditions race at Epsom last month and, with plenty of improvement to come, Saeed Bin Suroor's colt gets the nod. Richard Hannon's Nysaean has struggled since returning from a mid-summer break and may do so again under his penalty. Compton Bolter tends to find at least one too good in this company and is likely to do so again so and a bigger threat may come from Always First. Sir Michael Stoute's colt is relatively unexposed, particularly over today's trip, and should fair better than in a tactical Great Voltigeur on his first attempt beyond 1m2f last month. Mick Channon's Imperial Dancer is always liable to pop up at a big price but cannot be backed with any confidence, while Westmoreland Road is proving frustrating not to say expensive to follow. Albinus needs to improve again to trouble the judge and, unless the rain arrives to help Percussionist and Day Flight, this is probably best left to Sights On Gold.