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Racecards

16:55 Newbury

John Smith's Smooth Conditions Stakes (Class 3)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 1f
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 1m 52.17s
  • 6 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Polar Bear

7/2

    2
    Silk -

    Royal Prince

    11/2

      1(3)
      Silk - Royal blue

      Ancient World (USA)

      279
      5/6
      • Form 218115-
      • Age 5
      • Weight 9-3
      • Official Rating 117

      led, ridden and strongly challenged from 2f out, hung right and headed inside final furlong, one pace

      2(2)
      Silk - Emerald Green, White hoops, Orange sleeves and cap

      Colisay

      19
      12/1
      • Form 0-72505
      • Age 6
      • Weight 8-11
      • Official Rating 103

      pulled hard in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten

      3(4)
      Silk - Royal blue, royal blue cap

      Matloob

      21 C
      14/1
      • Form 113/6
      • Age 4
      • Weight 8-11
      • Official Rating 105

      held up in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased

      4(6)
      Silk - White, Red braces, Black cap

      Polar Bear

      128 BF
      7/2
      • Form 1173-38
      • Age 5
      • Weight 8-11
      • Official Rating 106

      steadied start, held up in rear, smooth headway on inside from over 2f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, canter

      5(5)
      Silk - Royal Blue, Light Blue chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap

      Royal Prince

      7
      11/2
      • Form 254345
      • Age 4
      • Weight 8-11
      • Official Rating 99

      tracked leader, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon every chance, stayed on inside final furlong, no chance with winner

      6(1)
      Silk - White, Orange chevron, sleeves and cap

      Spanish Don

      49 CDD
      14/1
      • Form 0-20087
      • Age 7
      • Weight 8-11
      • Official Rating 99

      tracked leader, hung right and weakened over 2f out

      In depth

      Verdict

      Ancient World gets a solid vote here ahead of Matloob, Polar Bear and Colisay. Despite not having raced for 259 days, Ancient World looks the pick of these, as the Italian Group 1 winner and Hong Kong Cup fifth comes out with a bit in hand on official ratings. The fact that Frankie Dettori has also elected to ride him ahead of the same stable's Matloob is a further point in his favour. However, that last-named horse plus Polar Bear and Colisay are fairly evenly-matched further down the ratings and can be competitive for place money. Finally, Royal Prince has proven himself a very capable handicapper, as has last year's Cambridgeshire winner Spanish Don. However, the compliment of classiest performer on show belongs to Ancient World and he can make a winning return for the season.

      Formwatch

      Ancient World (USA) (9-0) Made most to final furlong, no extra, 5th of 14, 2l behind Alexander Goldrun (8-7) at Sha Tin 1m 2f Grp 1 gf in Dec.

      Colisay 9-2 (9-2) Held up, pushed along entering straight, plugged on from over 1f out, 5th of 6, 5l behind Etesaal (9-7) at Epsom 1m 2f stk (3) gd in Aug.

      Matloob 9-1 (9-2) Held up, effort to chase leading pair 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 8, 7l behind Orcadian (9-2) at Windsor 1m 4f lst stk (1) gd in Aug.

      Polar Bear 2-1fav (9-6) Slowly into stride, headway 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 8l behind Quito (9-7) at York 7f lst hcp (1) sft in May.

      Royal Prince 11-2 (9-4) Slow into stride, took keen hold and held up in rear, headway 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 5th of 13, 3l behind Serre Chevalier (9-2) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) gf.

      Spanish Don 9-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 11l behind St Andrews (8-12) at Newmarket 1m stk (2) gf in Jul.