4:55 – Newbury – GT EXHIBITIONS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 3) (3yo) Soft 7f

The Mick Channon trained Arnold Lane will find things much more to his liking today having come up short in Group 1 races on his last two starts.  The 3 year old bay colt is dropped down in class to Listed level this afternoon in a small field event which could turn into a match between him and Producer.

Arnold Lane ran five times as a 2 year old and after winning his Maiden on his debut he did not win again all season although he did run well in most of his races finishing runner up on two occasions.  His ran in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on his last run but finished well down the field.  He started off well this season winning first time out at Chester in a Class 2 Handicap beating Gabrial into 2^nd place, who has come out and won since and also ran very well to finish 5^th in the Group 1 St James’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.  His last two runs have been at Group 1 over 1 mile and he has only been able to beat one horse home out of the two races.

He is dropping back down to a more realistic level this afternoon and he is also down in trip to 7 furlongs.  He has not run over the trip before, but his Chester win was over 7 furlongs and 122 yards and he was placed over 6 furlongs last year, so the distance should suit him fine.  The going at Newbury is Soft which will also help Arnold Lane today.  He has run in Soft ground on two occasions, his win at Chester and when he finished 2^nd at Salisbury in a Class 2 Conditions race last season.

He is ridden by Sam Hitchcott this afternoon and Sam has ridden him five times in total including both of his wins.

Producer comes into the race with the best form having finished 5^th in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.  However, he has never encountered ground any Softer than Good and he also carries 10lbs more than Arnold Lane which could make the difference over 7 furlongs on Soft ground.  Given the weight difference, the drop in class and Arnold Lane’s proven form in the ground he is taken to get his head in front today.