Skip to content

Racecards

16:45 Newcastle

Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes (Class 2)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f 42y
  • Going: Standard
  • Surface: AllWeather
  • £200,000 added
  • Winner: £103,080
  • 2nd: £48,340
  • 3rd: £24,180
  • 4th: £12,080
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 11.91s
  • Off Time: 16:48:16
  • 6 Ran
1(3)
Silk - Beige, Dark Blue armlets, Dark Blue cap

Al Zaraqaan

20 b DCD
6/1
  • Form 04-1462
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 105

steadied into rear, pulled hard, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened

2(5)
Silk - Mauve, mauve and purple hooped cap
  • Form 663-531
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 97

chased leaders, ridden, switched right but wanting to hang left from over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, unable to trouble front pair

3(2)
Silk - White, black diamonds on sleeves, check cap

Felix

20 pt D
14/1
  • Form 6633-58
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 105

held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, went 4th inside final furlong, no impression

4(4)
Silk - Pink, red disc, quartered cap
  • Form 613-331
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 106

led, ridden and headed over 1f out, edged left, rallied inside final furlong, led again towards finish

5(1)
Silk - Dark blue, light blue cross belts, diabolo on sleeves, white cap
10/11
  • Form 1-114
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 99

chased leaders on inside, improved from over 2f out, soon edged left, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed towards finish

6(6)
Silk - Black, yellow star, yellow sleeves, black stars
9/1
  • Form 17-3230
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 105

pressed winner, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten

In depth

Verdict

A massive prize might have been expected to attract a bigger field. French raider Charlesquint scored at Chantilly last month though probably needs to find a bit more but Al Zaraqaan, a five-times winner, only just failed to make it six when finishing strongly behind Living Legend at Kempton when Felix ran a shocker and finished last. The latter is much better than that though it's Archie Watson's charge who can come out best this time. United Front has won around here and found good to soft ground against him when well beaten in the Lincoln so the vote goes to TYRRHENIAN SEA. Roger Varian's grey completed a hat-trick on this track before losing his unbeaten record at Kempton where he never saw daylight and finished full of running. Compensation awaits here.

Formwatch

Al Zaraqaan 14-1 (9-0) Dwelt, pushed along leaving stalls, towards rear, raced keenly, switched wide entering home straight, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside last, just failed, 2nd of 8, shd behind Living Legend (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.

Charlesquint (IRE) (8-13) won at Chantilly 1m 1f stks pol in Mar beating Thirsty (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.

Felix 3-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, well held from over 1f out, last of 8, 9 3/4l behind Living Legend (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.

Living Legend (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Prominent, pressed leader 3f out, led narrowly 2f out, ridden 1f out, stayed on gamely, just held on, won at Kempton 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Mar beating Al Zaraqaan (9-0) by ns, 8 ran.

Tyrrhenian Sea (IRE) 1-2fav (9-2) Tracked leaders, not clear run from over 1f out, ran on but never had gaps opened to challenge, 4th of 6, 1/2l behind Baldomero (8-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Mar.

United Front (USA) 22-1 (8-8) Close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 19th of 22, 7 3/4l behind Johan (9-4) at Doncaster 1m hcp (2) gs in Mar.