Decree Romps To Cambridgeshire Glory

Formal Decree ran out a thoroughly convincing winner of the totesport Cambridgeshire to provide Alan Swinbank and reigning champion jockey Jamie Spencer with a high-profile success at Newmarket.

Spencer had only come in for the ride after his original mount Cesare was withdrawn and he duly made the most of his opportunity as the unlucky Dean McKeown missed out.

The Diktat gelding was sent off a well-supported 9-1 chance and always appeared to be travelling well in mid-division as 9-2 favourite Smart Enough attempted to steal the #150,000 highlight from the front.

He began to make ominous headway as the field approached the final quarter-mile and, once Spencer asked his mount to clear away and win his race, the response was emphatic.

Formal Decree found a good turn of foot to put distance between himself and his rivals and readily bounded four lengths clear of his nearest pursuer, the staying-on Blue Bajan (25-1).

Pinpoint, 10-1, and the unfancied Take A Bow, 40-1, stayed on dourly under pressure to claim third and fourth, a length and short-head away respectively, while Smart Enough faded into fifth late on as his pacesetting role began to take its toll.

Having initially split into two groups, the field began to merge towards the centre of the course after around three furlongs and all bar Spectait drifted towards the stands rail, with the Sir Mark Prescott runner making a bold bid in isolation for a long way on the far side before folding.

Spencer was able to bide his time on the winner, however, and after picking his way through his competitors, he delivered him with aplomb to the delight of Spencer's in-laws Jack and Lynda Ramsden, who hold shares in the three-year-old.

'We thought that if we got a run into him last year we would be delighted,' explained Mrs Ramsden.

'We get rid of a lot but Jack decided to keep this one and it certainly worked out,' she enthused.

Also present to enjoy the victory was her husband, who added: 'The race unfolded differently to how we expected ? the original plan had been to follow Kerrin (McEvoy) closely on Smart Enough but it all worked out in the end.

'Four lengths is a long way to win a Cambridgeshire by, especially as he wants a bit further but the ground suited him and he wants a straight mile.'

Swinbank was at Redcar, from where he said: 'He was unlucky not to win at Newbury last time out, but we learned a lot about him there.

'The good gallop took him along today and two furlongs out a lot of horses were stopping, but I did not know if the one on his own on the far side (Spectait) would stop.

'I said to Jack (Ramsden) that Formal Decree was a mile-and-a-half horse but I felt that nine furlongs in that ground would suit him and it did, he travelled really well and picked up well when he was asked.

'I still think he is a mile-and-a-half horse from the way he has worked with Alfie Flits and other good horses.

'There is nothing much left for him this season so we will probably rough him off. A very good judge has said to me that if a three-year-old wins a race like the Cambridgeshire he could be a Group Three horse and we will look that way next season.

'I would like to go to Dubai, perhaps in January or February, the ground could be OK then, though it might be too quick in March.'

But the result could have been markedly different if Spencer had not been able to placate his mount as the runners began to leave the paddock, with Formal Decree whipping round and charging for the exit.

'He just lost track of the other runners, whipped round and ran for the exit,' Ramsden continued. 'I don't think he's a lunatic, he settled well in his race and was just keen to get on with things.'

Spencer was quick to thank McKeown, saying: 'All credit must go to Dean McKeown for letting me get on him as he didn't have to get off. He reacted like a true gentleman over the whole thing.

'I have no doubt in my mind that this horse will win a Group race over a mile and a half.'

Swindon-based Andrew Turnell, trainer of the runner-up said: 'We're very pleased with him, we've just found one too good.

'He handles this ground now. He didn't used to like it much but I think he was a bit weak in the past. Now he has got stronger and he was always travelling today.

'It wouldn't be out of the question that he'd go hurdling.'

Walter Swinburn was also thrilled with the run of Pinpoint, but was quick to concede how impressed he was by the winner.

'We're thrilled with that ? Pinpoint has run a very very good race and I think time will tell that this was probably a very good Cambridgeshire.'

(C) PA Sport