Racecards
13:50 Newmarket
Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes (group 2) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Form 233-640
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer P W Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey J Fortune
raced wide, mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 641-373
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J Noseda
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
prominent, led entering final 2f, ridden out
- Form 429266
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Richard Hughes
went right start, keen, held up in rear, switched right and effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 114280
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R L Moore
in touch, ridden 3f out, effort over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
- Form 395-676
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer P W Chapple-Hyam
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
in rear, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 232911
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey L Dettori
hampered start, soon with leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 451554
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Ted Durcan
raced wide, held up in rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home
- Form 1128-20
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
led, ridden over 2f out, headed entering final 2f, soon weakened
- Form 41-0318
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 104
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Judged by recent wins at Kempton and Newbury, Ashram looks the clear pick of Saeed bin Suroor's three runners in this contest over Asset and Donativum, but it is hard to get away from MAIN AIM, who looks the one they have to beat. Sir Michael Stoute's colt has been well held in better races than this in his last two starts, latterly the Sprint Cup at Hayock, but earlier form was solid and he has an obvious chance dropped into this company. Arabian Gleam was not surprisingly outclassed in the Queen Anne Stakes but ran well in Doncaster's Park Stakes last time so he has to be considered. Ouqba was not beaten far by Jeremy Noseda's five-year-old at Doncaster and there should not be much between the pair again but both are likely to be placed at best.
Formwatch
Al Qasi (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Held up, never dangerous, 11th of 14, 11l behind Regal Parade (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) gs in Sep.
Arabian Gleam 11-2 (9-4) Held up, switched left over 4f out, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Duff (9-4) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Asset (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Prominent, chased winner over 1f out, soon ridden, weakened towards finish, 6th of 14, 4l behind Sayif (8-12) at Ascot 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Main Aim 9-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, soon lost place, hampered over 1f out, 13th of 14, 27l behind Regal Parade (9-3) at Haydock 6f Grp 1 (1) gs in Sep.
Tariq 11-2 (9-2) Went right and stumbled start, behind, ridden and hung left 2f out, no response, last of 6, 10l behind Ashram (8-13) at Newbury 7f Listed stks (1) gf in Sep.
Ashram (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Made virtually all, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Newbury 7f Listed stks (1) gf in Sep beating Huntdown (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Donativum 9-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, raced keenly, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched left, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind Confront (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 (1) gf.
Ouqba 4-1 (9-0) Held up, switched left over 4f out, headway over 3f out, chased winner 2f out, not quicken and lost 2 places well inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 3/4l behind Duff (9-4) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Cuis Ghaire (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and weakened 3f out, eased from 2f out, 15th of 16, well behind Again (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Fll Grp 1 hvy in May.
Summer Fete (IRE) 33-1 (8-8) 8th of 9, 14l behind Aqlaam (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m Grp 1 gs in Sep.