Racecards
17:20 Newmarket
Royal British Legion Handicap (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,938
- 2nd: £3,850
- 3rd: £1,924
- 4th: £962
Ayaar (IRE)
51- Form 15-4660
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey Martin Harley
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer
- Form 217213
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 465431
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 92
close up, led 2f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, headed post
- Form 16-761
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey J P Spencer
led after 1f, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 321-412
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey P Hanagan
always in rear, weakened over 1f out
- Form 91-22
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey N Callan
mid-division, ridden and headway entering final furlong, driven and stayed on to go 3rd near finish
- Form 53-1
- Age 3
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey W Buick
in rear, good headway over 1f out, ridden to press leader inside final furlong, led post
- Form 355231
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Mrs K Burke
- Jockey M Dwyer
led 1f, tracked leader, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, lost 3rd near finish
In depth
Verdict
Veeraya's good run behind Majestic Moon over course and distance last month earned a further weight rise and means he's actually worse off at the weights than when narrowly beaten by AZRUR here earlier. We have to go with Jamie Spencer's mount to confirm the form on that evidence and he may well be good enough to double up if the hood works a second time. Dangers abound, however, including recent winners Top Notch Tonto, Breden and Bold Prediction. Altharoos has gone up a further pound since losing out to Frog Hollow at York, however, and Intrigo is 2lb higher than when third at Ascot two weeks ago.
Formwatch
Ayaar (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 10th of 27, 6l behind Roca Tumu (8-12) at Royal Ascot 1m 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Intrigo 5-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway near side 2f out, stayed on to 3rd over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong but no chance with easy winner, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Yeager (8-3) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Top Notch Tonto (IRE) 9-4fav (9-5) In touch, switched left over 2f out, headway soon after, ridden to lead inside final furlong, just held on, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul beating Royal Prize (8-13) by ns, 7 ran.
Azrur (IRE) 15-2 (9-3) Made most, ridden 2f out, edged right 1f out, ridden and all out, just held on, won at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating Veeraya (8-12) by ns, 11 ran.
Altharoos (IRE) 2-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, driven when not clear run 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no impression with winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Frog Hollow (9-6) at York 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Veeraya 9-4 (9-5) In touch in rear, headway when switched left approaching final furlong, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, not trouble winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Majestic Moon (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jul.
Breden (IRE) 11-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders on inside, not clear run and switched left inside final 2f, chased leader 1f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, eased close home, won at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Jul beating Dawn Of Empire (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bold Prediction (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Made all, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, edged slightly left well inside final furlong, held on well, won at Ayr 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Jul beating Aeronwyn Bryn (8-11) by 1/2l, 3 ran.