Ratings Update: Newcastle, Newmarket and the Curragh

Newcastle

The Chipchase Stakes was the only pattern race on the card, but it was one of the thinner renewals, the fact seven-year-old Above The Rest (up 3 lb to 120) could win it so readily saying something.  He had hardly ever run over six furlongs, or the all-weather, but hit new heights in form terms, and is clearly better than ever at present. Nothing else really got into the race, second and third Yalta (remains on 112) and Classical Times (up 2 lb to 108) always well positioned on/near the pace.

The Northumberland Vase is a consolation for the Plate, but it is a useful handicap in its own right, and this year’s renewal looks solid form. The winner Cosmelli (up 8 lb to 108) was unfancied in the betting, but there was no fluke about his performance, and it’s worth noting he was beaten less than three lengths in the Plate itself 12 months ago from a 5 lb higher mark. Both he and the second Euchen Glen (106 from 104) came from well back after Denmead (up 7 lb to 95) had set a sound gallop.  

The Plate itself was a typical modern-day renewal, made up by lots of exposed, high-end handicappers, but it was the fast-improving Withhold (116p from 112p) who came out on top. It was another perfectly executed plan by connections, nine months on from his rout in the Cesarewitch, and it will be pattern company up next (holds an entry in the Goodwood Cup.  Admittedly, he had the run of things in front – the first mile was four seconds slower than the Vase – but he quickly settled matters when asked to quicken in the straight and ultimately won with plenty in hand.

ICYMI: Withhold gave it all to win the Stobart Rail & Civils Northumberland Plate Handicap at @NewcastleRaces

Catch up with everything from Friday evening and Saturday afternoon on the ITV Racing site:https://t.co/idibDHzZp2 pic.twitter.com/WInxQ0HafD

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 30, 2018

Newmarket

It was an up-to-scratch renewal of the Criterion Stakes which went the way of the standard-setter Sir Dancealot (remains on 119). The pace was steady, but they got racing far enough out to make it a true test, and the winner proved at least as good as ever to gain his first pattern success. He was in full control when veering left at the finish and there are more races at this level for him.

The mile and a half listed race is rarely a competitive one, and this year was no different, just four runners going to post. Second Step (up 1 lb to 117) proved he is still a smart performer, resuming winning ways in good fashion and, an admirably consistent sort, he should continue to give a good account at listed or minor pattern level.

Curragh

It was a below-par renewal of the Railway Stakes on Saturday, none of the septet having previously competed at higher than listed level. Van Beethoven (up 6 lb to 102) had the best form going into the race an duly came out on top, producing a career best, and the Phoenix Stakes is the next obvious port of call. Marie’s Diamond (100 from 88p) lost little in defeat upped in grade, the way he finished his race out adding further weight to the theory that a step up in trip will suit.

It was the 153^rd running of the Irish Derby, and it will go down in history, not necessarily for the performance of Latrobe (up to 116p) who at this stage looks no more than an average winner of the race, but for the fact that he was trained and ridden by two brothers, Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien, denying their father, Aidan, a thirteenth win in the race. Rostropovich (up 6 lb to 117) took them along at a fair pace and very few managed to get involved, the first three in those positions from a very early stage. Saxon Warrior (down 2 lb to 124) could only finish third, and is in danger of not even being considered the best of the classic generation, this performance merely on a par with Epsom. The winner Latrobe has lots of options open to him now, including the St Leger, but he isn’t really bred to stay that far.

Victory for the O'Brien brothers in a thrilling Classic - Latrobe wins the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby! @DDFRacing @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/dLA6SblFia

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 30, 2018

There wasn’t much between the first three home in the final furlong of the Grangecon Stud Stakes on Sunday, but it was two of the most experienced who fought it out, So Perfect (up 2 lb to 100) edging out Skitter Scatter (98p from 90p). There's more than a sense that the winner has a pretty big reputation and, given her record of run-to-run improvement, she shouldn't be ruled out back in a higher grade.

Yucatan (remains 114) bounced back to form in the International Stakes to win for the first time since his two-year-old campaign, the application of blinkers and switch to more positive tactics working the oracle. He did show signs of quirkiness when first put under pressure, but won well enough in the end, and will be best kept to a similar level for the time being having gotten his career back on track.

The Pretty Polly Stakes represented the first major clash of the three-year-old fillies up against their elders over a mile and a quarter this season, and it was one of the older contingent that came out on top in the shape of Urban Fox (up 5 lb to 118). She has proved better than ever this year since switching to William Haggas, and produced another career best to win at the highest level on her first attempt at the trip. Admittedly, she was suited by the emphasis on speed more so than Oaks winner Forever Together (remains on 118p), but such was the manner of her victory, she would surely have won no matter how the race was run.

Forever Together wasn’t seen to anything like as good effect as in the Oaks when relishing the stamina test that a mile and a half on soft ground provided, but she remains capable of better, particularly when stepping back up in trip; she remains the one to beat in the Irish Oaks later this month.