in touch in rear, outpaced 3f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, nearest finish
keen tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
towards rear, switched left over 1f out, headway soon after, kept on, not trouble leaders
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
close up, headway to lead approaching final furlong, ridden edged left and ran on
in touch, headway over 1f out, ridden to press winner entering final furlong, not quicken towards finish
Brian Meehan's stable has hit the ground running this season and MONTALCINO might be the one to be on in this conditions race. She finished more than two lengths ahead of Shagah in a Class 2 event here in September when just touched off by the subsequently Listed-placed Good Place. Sperry has only won an all-weather maiden so far but Touchline, who found Group 3 company too much last time, should win more races and Haalan is the type to do better this year. Pulcinella ran well in a hot nursery at Newmarket in September so can't be ignored.
Haalan 50-1 (9-0) Steadied start, held up and behind, pushed along halfway, ridden and plugged on past beaten horses into modest 4th well inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 6l behind Terror (9-0) at Newmarket 6f 2yo fll Listed stks (1) gs in Oct.
Hassah 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, pushed up to lead under 2f out, ridden over 1f out, asserted 150 yards out, impressive, won at Listowel 1m 2yo flls mdn auc stks gd in Sep beating Magic Of Christmas (9-0) by 8l, 11 ran.
Montalcino (IRE) 6-1 (8-12) Led, driven 2f out, hard pressed when rider dropped rein and edged left 1f out, headed narrowly inside final furlong, kept on, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind Good Place (8-12) at Ascot 1m 2yo fll stks (2) gf in Sep.
Pulcinella (IRE) 7-1fav (9-1) Dwelt mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden to press winner inside final furlong, ran on but always looked held, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Little Lady Katie (8-2) at Newmarket 7f 2yo fll hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Shagah (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Steadied start, took keen hold in 4th but off the pace, pushed along over 1f out, no impression, last of 4, 13l behind Very Special (9-0) at Kempton 1m flls stks (2) pol.
Sperry (IRE) 1-2fav (9-0) Raced keenly, made all, clear final 2f, unchallenged, won at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) in Nov beating Sylvette (9-0) by 7l, 8 ran.
Touchline 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 8l behind New Providence (9-0) at Salisbury 6f 2yo fll Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep.