| Course: SANDOWN | Race date:04/02/06 | Race time:12:55 | Runners:12 |
| Race distance:3m | Going:Good | Winners time:5m 54.20s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Dragon | A P McCoy | Jonjo O´Neill | 11-0 | 5 | 150 | 145 | 16/1 | 26.46 | 22.08 | 15 | 1.01 | 1 | ||
| Mighty Man | Richard Johnson | H D Daly | 11-4 | 6 | 157 | 156 | 15/8F | 3.5 | 3.05 | 2.42 | 2.8 | 2 | 2 | |
| Westender | Timmy Murphy | M C Pipe | 11-4 | 10 | 151 | 151 | 28/1 | 52.92 | 42.44 | 31.75 | 6.2 | 3 | 1½ | |
| Patriarch Express | Dominic Elsworth | Mrs S J Smith | 11-8 | 9 | 155 | 158 | 14/1 | 18 | 15.77 | 13.23 | 1.2 | 4 | nk | |
| No Refuge | G Lee | J Howard Johnson | 11-8 | 6 | 153 | 150 | 11/2 | 7.6 | 6.27 | 3.7 | 1.72 | 5 | 3½ | |
| Sporazene | B J Geraghty | P F Nicholls | 11-0 | 7 | 140 | 149 | 16/1 | 35.28 | 25.05 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 5 | |
| Starzaan | Jim Crowley | H Morrison | 11-0 | 7 | 137 | 149 | 16/1 | 32 | 24.74 | 11.03 | 21 | 7 | 2½ | |
| Redemption | Carl Llewellyn | N A Twiston-Davies | 11-0 | 11 | 133 | 144 | 20/1 | 28.22 | 24.31 | 22 | 5.1 | 8 | 5 | |
| Mistanoora | Tom Scudamore | N A Twiston-Davies | 11-0 | 7 | 127 | 151 | 28/1 | 44.1 | 36.16 | 25 | 10 | 9 | 4 | |
| Attorney General | Sam Thomas | J A B Old | 11-0 | 7 | 124 | 149 | 13/2 | 10 | 8.42 | 5.64 | 8.4 | 10 | 3 | |
| Brewster | Mick Fitzgerald | Ian Williams | 11-4 | 9 | 0 | 150 | 16/1 | 26.46 | 21.59 | 18 | 11 | 11 | dist | |
| Millenium Royal | A Duchene | F Doumen | 11-8 | 6 | 122 | 0 | 10/1 | 14.99 | 13.21 | 7.41 | 12 | PU |
FIRE DRAGON, for whom this was by far his most important success, was freely available at 16-1 afterwards for Cheltenham, his nearest pursuers having all been conceding weight. Fire Dragon had suffered a frustrating run of seconds in handicaps off marks rising from 126 to 138, but the reapplication of blinkers clearly helped and he was among those forcing it throughout. He went a few lengths clear, going well within himself, towards the end of the back straight, and when headed marginally at the second last by Patriarch Express he found plenty and came clear of his tiring rival on the run-in. He is likely to run in the World Hurdle, because he will struggle in handicaps when reassessed, but he does not make much appeal. He owes much of this success to a great ride from Tony McCoy.
Mighty Man acquitted himself with plenty of credit again and was arguably unlucky once more. Having been a bit keyed up, as usual in the preliminaries, he was held up towards the rear and was being pushed along vigorously to improve his position when he was badly tightened up against the inside rail approaching the home straight and lost lengths, as well as momentum. He had it all to do straightening up and was still only fifth jumping the last, but then flew up the run-in, finishing so well that he must have gone close without the interference. He got the longer trip well and is now one of the market leaders for the World Hurdle.
Westender has become impossible to win with but first-time cheekpieces seemed to help and he ran on for third after jumping the last down the far side with only one behind him.
No Refuge was disappointing in fifth and was pushed out a few points in the World Hurdle betting. He clouted the second last, which didn't help, but he wouldn't have won and it remains to be seen if he stays this far. Connections have reservations on that score, so he is by no means a certain runner.
This was a new trip for Sporazene too, but it was his jumping that let him down yet again.
Starzaan, who had shaped well at Chepstow on his return from a long absence, was a bit keen.
The stablemates Redemption and Mistanoora were both well beaten and a long way below form, as was Attorney General, who got badly outpaced down the back on this quicker ground as many anticipated, and Brewster, who continues out of form.
French challenger Millenium Royal landed on all fours over the first and was never dangerous. (GD)
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