Racecards
15:30 Newmarket
bet365 Criterion Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £65,000 added
- Winner: £36,862
- 2nd: £13,975
- 3rd: £6,994
- 4th: £3,484
- Form 112-463
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey James Doyle
chased leaders, headway over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 71/15-13
- Age 7
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 110
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
- Form 295-751
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer D J Coakley
- Jockey G Baker
steadied start, always in rear
- Form 51386-5
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey W Buick
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, hard driven inside final furlong, stayed on well
- Form 1412-45
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
led until over 4f out, rallied and every chance over 1f out, faded final furlong
- Form 32341-7
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Harry Bentley
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, not run on
In depth
Verdict
Penitent beat a few of these including Eton Forever when landing a Listed race at Haydock last month. But he'd prefer softer ground and Garswood, sporting first-time blinkers, and Tawhid may turn the tables with David O'Meara's charge. Gabriel's Lad won the Victoria Cup at Ascot in good style and a similar effort would see him go close while Gregorian has leading claims on last year's win in the Hungerford at Newbury when Tawhid finished behind. The Hannon team bids for a fourth consecutive win with Indignant but she has a bit to find on today's terms and TOP NOTCH TONTO gets the vote. The latter has been competing over longer trips since beating Caspar Netscher in a Listed race at Redcar in October and should make a bold bid with a similar effort.
Formwatch
Penitent 12-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 2f out, edged left 2f out, soon weakened, eased when beaten inside final furlong, last of 7, 8l behind French Navy (9-5) at Epsom Downs 1m Grp 3 (1) gd.
Top Notch Tonto (IRE) 15-8 (9-3) Set steady pace, headed narrowly 6f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, last of 3, 3l behind Sharestan (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in May.
Eton Forever (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway from over 2f out, ridden, edged left and every chance inside inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Penitent (9-0) at Haydock 7f Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Gabriel's Lad (IRE) 12-1 (9-8) Held up towards rear stands side, steady headway 2f out, challenged over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and ran on well, won at Ascot 7f hcp (4yo+) (2) gs in May beating Glen Moss (9-7) by 2 1/4l, 25 ran.
Garswood 11-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, unable to challenge, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Penitent (9-0) at Haydock 7f Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Gregorian (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Tracked leaders, travelling well over 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 5l behind French Navy (9-5) at Epsom Downs 1m Grp 3 (1) gd.
Highland Colori (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 3l behind Rocky Ground (9-0) at Windsor 6f Listed stks (1) gd.
Tawhid 9-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up, bumped slightly over 5f out, headway over 3f out, challenged over 1f out until entering final furlong, no extra final 100 yards, 7th of 9, 8l behind Penitent (9-0) at Haydock 7f Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Indignant 18-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, driven and ran on inside final furlong, held on gamely, all out, won at Salisbury 6f Listed stks (1) gf beating Professor (9-5) by nk, 7 ran.