tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and one pace when lost 2nd over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, eased when held in 4th close home
took keen hold tracking leading pair, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, well held and kept on same pace after
slowly into stride, held up in rear, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd and edged left over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
led, headed and ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, one pace into 3rd 100 yards out
slowly into stride, took keen hold and held up, headway on inside 2f out, not clear run when switched right and hampered over 1f out, switched back inside, squeezed through inside final furlong, ran on into 2nd final 100 yards, not recover
There is a likelihood of this being a tactical affair and AL MANAAL can make her experience of racing in small fields count. Mick Channon's filly needs to bounce back from a below-par run at Brighton but she won impressively at Lingfield on her previous start and is only 2lb higher today. Wandsworth made a late start to racing but he made up for lost time with two victories over the winter - the market will tell us what to anticipate on his reappearance. Gramercy holds an entry in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and, though his rating makes that engagement unlikely, his fifth in the Victoria Cup suggests he retains ability. Ogbourne Downs and Fleckerl are hold-up performers and neither would be suited by funereal early pace.
Gramercy (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Led, driven clear over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Red Refraction (8-3) at Doncaster 7f hcp 0-105 (2) sft.
Al Manaal 9-1 (9-2) Stumbled start, soon recovered to lead, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, lost 2nd inside final furlong, weakened, last of 5, 3 1/2l behind Saucy Minx (9-4) at Brighton 7f fll hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) gf.
Ogbourne Downs 5-2fav (9-6) Close up, ridden and headway on outer over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Busatto (9-9) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
Wandsworth (IRE) 7-4fav (8-3) Tracked leaders, effort to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, weakend final 110 yards, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Alfred Hutchinson (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Dec.
Fleckerl (IRE) 6-4fav (9-2) In touch in 3rd, chased clear leader over 5f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and edged left just inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Heavy Metal (9-6) at Brighton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gf in May.
