| Course: STRATFORD | Race date:26/05/06 | Race time:7:15 | Runners:13 |
| Race distance:2m½f | Going:Good To Soft | Winners time:3m 56.10s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio De Janeiro | Barry Fenton | Miss E C Lavelle | 10-12 | 5 | 119 | 0 | 3/1F | 6.8 | 4.56 | 3.84 | 1.01 | 1 | ||
| Sou'Wester | Joe Tizzard | C L Tizzard | 11-4 | 6 | 115 | 110 | 7/2 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 2 | 4 | |
| Don And Gerry | Tony Evans | P D Evans | 10-11 | 5 | 98 | 104 | 6/1 | 8.4 | 7.62 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 3 | 10 | |
| Cold Mountain | Richard Young | J W Mullins | 10-11 | 4 | 100 | 110 | 10/1 | 13 | 11.85 | 6.22 | 6.4 | 4 | ¾ | |
| Magnesium | Robert Thornton | B G Powell | 10-12 | 6 | 86 | 109 | 13/2 | 11.3 | 8.08 | 7.35 | 7.8 | 5 | 15 | |
| Blue Train | A P McCoy | Jonjo O´Neill | 10-8 | 4 | 66 | 0 | 11/2 | 11.5 | 7.84 | 4.18 | 7.6 | 6 | 13 | |
| Lake Imperial | Dougie Costello | Heather Dalton | 10-9 | 5 | 67 | 77 | 50/1 | 220 | 103.4 | 56.5 | 90 | 7 | 3½ | |
| Tihui Two | Mark Bradburne | G R I Smyly | 10-5 | 6 | 52 | 0 | 16/1 | 62.15 | 22.9 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |
| Escobar | Matthew Batchelor | Mrs P Townsley | 10-12 | 5 | 56 | 0 | 50/1 | 120 | 82.35 | 22.6 | 40 | 9 | 3 | |
| Rosiella | Tom Messenger | M Appleby | 9-8 | 4 | 42 | 0 | 100/1 | 410 | 264.07 | 90 | 200 | 10 | 3 | |
| Northern Madrik | Tom Scudamore | D E Pipe | 10-12 | 5 | 31 | 0 | 25/1 | 80 | 62.82 | 18.08 | 65 | 11 | 22 | |
| Cloonavery | Andrew Thornton | B Llewellyn | 10-8 | 4 | 0 | 78 | 100/1 | 360 | 193.29 | 38 | 190 | 12 | 34 | |
| Major League | P J Brennan | K Bishop | 10-8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20/1 | 48 | 33.14 | 11.87 | 22 | PU |
RIO DE JANEIRO, whose connections won this event in 2004 with Sir Laughalot, improved on the level of his recent return to hurdling at Wincanton and duly got off the mark at the third attempt in this sphere. He jumped well throughout and, once sent to the front after three out, he knuckled down to shake off the runner-up and had something up his sleeve at the finish. Versatile as regards underfoot conditions, he should go on from this now, and will stay further.
Sou'Wester was the only one to give the winner a race from two out and lost little in defeat under his penalty. He was nicely clear of the remainder at the finish, and is a consistent novice hurdler, but he looks every inch a chaser and may be ready for a return to that sphere now.
Don And Gerry, off the mark as a hurdler against her own sex last time, ran her race from the front and did not appear all that inconvenienced by this return to much easier ground. She will continue to look vulnerable under her penalty in this division, but has another race within her compass during the summer when reverting to mares' only events.
Magnesium, equipped with first-time cheekpieces for this return to hurdling, proved one paced when push came to shove and was well beaten off. This should help to restore his confidence at least for a return to the bigger obstacles.
Blue Train, having histhird outing in quick succession, failed to raise his game for the application of a tongue tie. He has the scope to do better as a hurdler, and while he has proved very disappointing to date, he may well fair better now he is eligible for a handicap mark.
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