Racecards
20:05 Newmarket
Lexus Conditions Stakes (Class 3)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
Advanced
18- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey S J Drowne
keen, led, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on
Final Verse
22- Form 1
- Age 2
- Weight 9-1
- Trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- Jockey R Winston
pulled hard, close up, effort over 1f out, ridden and soon beaten, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
- Form 3212
- Age 2
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
close up, ridden over 1f out, edged left and ran on inside final furlong
- Form 545114
- Age 2
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer J R Best
- Jockey J P Spencer
stumbled badly start, soon chased leader, ridden and led over 1f out, driven and ran on gamely
Verdict
Only four runners here, but none can be ruled out and if the ground were to ride soft then it would make things even more puzzling for punters, as all have form on decent ground. However, Advanced and Final Verse have the more scope and the former is just preferred. Final Verse recorded a decent time for a juvenile when making a winning debut at Doncaster, and although the form hasn't worked out particularly well, Sir Michael Stoute's colt seems sure to improve. Sonny Santino has produced four very consistent runs so far, including when second to subsequent Coventry winner Red Clubs at Newmarket, and he will likely be the yardstick fror the others to test themselves against here. Rising Cross is the most exposed horse in the field but she boasts a decent level of form and in receipt of nine pounds from her rivals cannot entirely be ruled out. However, we just prefer Roger Charlton's colt, Advanced. This son of Night Shift looked very green both before and during his debut at Windsor, and under the circumstances did well to win. The fifth home has franked the form by winning since, and after the race Advanced's trainer spoke in quite glowing terms of his horse and was adamant that there was a lot more to come. Charlton is not normally one to hype his horses up, so we'll take him at his word and make Advanced the selection.
Formwatch
Advanced 6-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead just over 2f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out, readily, won at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn (5) gf beating High Command (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Final Verse 5-1 (9-0) Held up behind leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead entering final furlong, kept on, won at Doncaster 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd beating Ludovico (9-0) by 2l, 16 ran.
Sonny Santino 4-1 (9-6) Driven along to chase leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Yankee George (9-4) at Doncaster 7f nov aut stk (5) gd.
Rising Cross 20-1 (8-9) Held up, short of room over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 11, 3l behind Confidential Lady (8-9) at Sandown 7f 2yo lst fll (1) gf.