held up tracking leading pair, cruised up on bit over 2f out, soon challenged and hung right, led 1f out, outbattled well inside final furlong
held up in 4th, pushed along and dropped to rear over 4f out, lost touch over 3f out, eased from 2f out, tailed off
led until 8f out, tracked winner, led 2f out, headed 1f out, 3rd and held when hampered well inside final furlong
pulled hard, tracked leader, led 8f out until 2f out, stayed challenging, ridden and rallied gamely to regain lead well inside final furlong
held up last, pushed along over 4f out, soon 4th, stayed on on inside from 2f out, went 3rd towards finish
Bergo makes his first appearance on the flat in over 1000 days and his first since joining Gary Moore but he has been running well over hurdles and fences since coming from Germany and has to be considered but a safer option looks to be DUNCAN, who gets the vote with Traffic Guard rated the best of the rest. The selection won his first two starts last season and the lack of a recent run should not be a concern as he clearly goes well when fresh and a reproduction of his last time out third in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock in August may well suffice. David Elsworth's Barshiba won the Lancashire Oaks last term and should appreciate the drop back into listed race company having struggled in the highest grade in her final three outings last season. Andrew Balding has his string in good form but his runner, Hatton Flight, needs to improve to trouble the judge. Paul Cole's Starfala showed gradual improvement last term and has to be considered but more solid claims are held by stable companion Traffic Guard, who has the benefit of having raced already this season, although he was well held in the John Porter. The vote though goes the way of John Gosden's Duncan, who can make a winning reappearance.
Duncan 10-3 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Jukebox Jury (8-8) at Haydock 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Aug.
Hatton Flight 10-1 (9-1) In rear, outpaced 5f out, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 16l behind Snoqualmie Girl (8-1) at Chester 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gf in Sep.
Traffic Guard (USA) 9-1 (8-12) Dwelt, soon reached mid-division, dropped to rear 4f out, no danger after, 8th of 15, 14l behind Harbinger (8-11) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Barshiba (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 14, 5l behind Twice Over (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Starfala 10-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 8l behind Akmal (8-4) at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Bergo (GER) (8-11) 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Bussoni (9-0) at Germany(GER) 2m stk gd in May '07.
