Ten Large Down wins a classic RP Juvenile
Ten Large Down: Juvenile champ
PICTURE: Steve NashTEN LARGE DOWN stamped himself a major contender for the sport's top four-bend prizes when landing the £5,000 Racing Post Juvenile Championship at Wimbledon Tuesday in trap-to-line style.
There was no margin for error at the start, and Ten Large Down read the script, simply paw-perfect from trap three. Pacing up impressively into the corner, Diane Henry's imposing black held the early burst of 7-4 favourite Newlawn Class and tore off down the back-straight.
Newlawn Class challenged at the penultimate turn, but seemed to stumble slightly at this point and lost valuable momentum. Ten Large Down needed no second invitation and maintained a strong gallop to beat a running-on Shaws Dilemma, who made up a huge amount of ground, by two and three-quarter lengths. He stopped the clock for the 460-metre trip at 28.10sec.
Ten Large Down was cut to 25-1 (from 50) for the williamhill.com Derby by the sponsors immediately afterwards, and Henry said: "Nobody seemed to have faith in this dog, but he showed his class out there and is a serious contender for the Derby.
"I was a bit concerned that he might need a few more trials, but it's all worked out well. He was awesome tonight. I'm so proud of him. The plan is to keep running him at Wimbledon ahead of the Derby. It's not too far away now.
"Ten Large Down is maturing into a beautiful dog, and he's going to get even stronger. It was essential that he trapped out tonight, and he did."
Gilbeyhall Jake, another with the premier Classic as his major target, clocked 27.95sec in landing the Racing Post Pricewise Stakes, beating Sleeping Urban by a short head.
Winning trainer Seamus Cahill said: "This dog is getting better, and I thought he ran a blinder there. I couldn't be happier with him."
King Lee set new figures for the 256-metre trip, shaving nine spots off Thai Girl's record when clocking 15.14sec in the sprint. Quick into his stride, the Liz and Rab McNair-trained son of Brett Lee scored unchallenged by three and three-quarter lengths from Greenlough Speed.
Rab McNair said: "I've not had a bet in years, but I took the 11-4 about King Lee this morning. We bred and reared the dog ourselves which makes it even more special. I think he'll be a serious, serious dog around the likes of Romford and Oxford this year, so I don't want to stretch him over 480 metres in the Derby - that's my inclination anyway. Secretly I was hoping the Derby might be run over 420 metres this year."
Klockwork Kyla cracked out of trap six and proceeded to slam Millwards Dream by three and a half lengths in the bitches' open over 460 metres, stopping the clock at 27.81sec.
With Platinumlancelot retired, the way is clear for another hurdler to clean up this campaign, and Freedom Man staked an early claim when getting the better of Rockview Crash by half a length in the 460-metre jumps race.
Despite not trapping in trademark slick fashion, Maxine Locke's runner soon moved into a challenging position and his slick jumping allied to splendid middle pace ultimately proved decisive.
Locke said: "His jumping won him the race. He should enjoy a good year at places like Wimbledon."
Jogadusc Ace gave an exhibition of forceful front-running to win the British-bred event over 460 metres, beating Greenacre Josh, who shaped nicely on his first start of the year, by two lengths in 27.74sec.
Ted Soppitt is hoping Droopys Del Sol, the new marathon queen, can run-up a decent sequence of wins after her runaway success in 872-metre open. The daughter of Droopys Maldini came home nearly eight lengths clear of Knockies Hannah in 55.01sec, and her trainer said: "I don't see any reason why she can't build up a nice little sequence. She's very useful over these sort of trips."
**Jim Cremin's blog
ELSEWHERE Poole staged the first round heats of the £3,000 to-the-winner Golden Crest 2010 with Alma Keppie's Doitfordawn (3-1), winner of the third heat, clocking a fastest-of-the-night 26.87sec.
Paul Woodhouse's Blenhiem Regal (2-1), who recently moved to Poole following a spell on the Hove strength, landed the opening contest in 26.91sec. Chris Allsopp's Kurious Incident (9-1) caused a surprise when taking the second eliminator in an identical 26.91sec while Blakes Saint (11-4), trained by Brian Clemenson at Hove, made all of the running in heat four (Seanis Lad NR) clocking 27.10sec. The draw for Saturday's two semi-finals is asfollows. 1 Urban Crash, 2 Blakes Saint, 3 Blonde Playboy, 4 Iceman Joss, 5 Glynnscross Mal (M), 6 Doitfordawn (W) 1 Mays Rocknroller, 2 Kurious Incident, 3 Miss Crispys, 4 Blenheim Regal (M), 5 Blonde Alonso (M), 6 Lynnwood Bolt (W) **Latest ante-post prices from Jem Racing (Doitfodawn is now 7-2 favourite) , with the view of Jem's Martin Johnstone alongsides Urban Crash 20 Was impeded run up and first and second bend. Kept on well
Blakes Saint 12. Rocketed out of the lids and show great early pace. Tired noticeably off the last bend.
Blonde Playboy 7. Found trouble at the first two bends.
Iceman Josh 25. Moved middle slightly on the run up and although he was impeded at the first two turns, he will need to find plenty of improvement to make the final.
Glynnscross Mal 6. Was impeded run up and at the first bend before keeping on well from the third to qualify comfortably.
Doitfordawn 7/2. Came away well and disputed till leading off the last bend. He has fared very well in the draw and looks a certainty to make the final.
Mays Rocknroller 8. Disputed the lead till outstayed off the last bend. Always a runner at a track he runs so well.
Kurious Incident 8. Pinged in her heat to lead all and should appreciate a pitch nearer the rails.
Miss Crispys 14. Moved slightly middle in her heat, so wont be inconvenienced by her trap three draw.
Blenhiem Regal 6. Has really taken well to Pooleand it was her superior track craft that won her heat one.
Blonde Alonso 9/2. After a slightly tardy start he showed electric early to lead into the first bend. With this run under his belt it can be assumed that his bend running can only improve and will surely be a big player in the competition.
Lynwood Bolt 5. Did not come away in his best fashion in his heat.
