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15:10 Newmarket

Princess Of Wales's Wbx.com Stakes (group 2) (Class 1)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 4f
  • Going: Good to Soft
  • Surface: Turf
  • £100,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 33.37s
  • Off Time: 15:11:53
  • 6 Ran
1(3)
Silk - White, Emerald Green hoop
6/1
  • Form 2411-06
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 115

made all, soon clear, steady pace 7f out, taken to far side rail 4f out, still 3 lengths clear when quickened over 1f out, stayed on well, unchallenged

2(2)
Silk - Yellow, Emerald Green sash, armlets and cap
5/2
  • Form 116-831
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 113

held up in touch in chasing group, headway to go 2nd 5f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, soon weakened

7(8)
Silk - Black, Yellow disc, Black and Red 'A', Black sleeves, two Red armlets, Black cap, Red peak

Lion Sands

12 CDD
8/1
  • Form 531-541
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 114

went right start, in touch in chasing group, improved 3f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong

8(5)
Silk - Red and Beige diabolo, Red cap, Beige diamond

Papal Bull

34 CDD
2/1
  • Form 51137-4
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 121

held up in chasing group, headway when short of room over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, ridden and kept on

9(7)
Silk - Pink and White check
  • Form 70-0368
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 105

held up in last place in chasing group, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong

10(1)
Silk - Royal blue
7/2
  • Form 3523-05
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 117

led chasing group, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

3(9)
NR
  • Form 1114-38
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 112

Nonrunner

4(6)
NR
  • Form 11-0702
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 98

Nonrunner

5(10)
NR
  • Form 450745
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 108

Nonrunner

6(4)
NR
  • Form 431-197
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-2

Nonrunner

11(11)
NR
  • Form 4226-98
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 104

Nonrunner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Papal Bull beat a field of similar quality in last year's renewal and can record back-to-back successes before going in search of a maiden success at the highest level. He may be quirky but he's got bundles of talent and Ryan Moore seems to have a good level of understanding of the Montjeu colt. He hung badly right when winning this last year but that antic appeared to be a one-off and of more concern would be significant rain given that he has only twice raced on ground worse than good and has finished well beaten on both occasions. He has had just the one outing this season and looked better than ever when staying on strongly to finish a close fourth to Soldier Of Fortune in the Coronation Cup and he should take all the beating if able to run up to that level of form again. Lucarno was amongst the vanquished in last year's renewal and he has yet to find his best form in two starts on ground that has been softer than ideal this season. Shahin was the selection's nearest pursuer last year but hasn't run up to that level of form since and connections will be hoping that the switch to blinkers will do the trick. Torrential rain would bring the admirable Anna Pavlova into the equation but a good few of these have plenty to find with the main protagonists. Lion Sands is one of those but he's one of the more interesting runners given his trainer's propensity for improving his horses; he's come up short at this level before and some observers believed he was a shade fortunate to defeat Tranquil Tiger last time but he's been consistently campaigned at a high level by his trainer who is rarely wide of the mark. Sagara has nothing to prove in terms of the level of form that he can achieve but his recent efforts have cast doubt upon his ability to reach those heights again. He's only ever won once but was third in last year's Arc and a close second to Soldier Of Fortune prior to that but he trailed in last on debut for this yard at Goodwood before finishing in midfield in the Gold Cup. The drop in trip should suit but he has too many questions to answer unlike PAPAL BULL who is sure to have been primed for his repeat bid.