took keen hold, tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, held when short of room near finish
tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, outpaced 2f out, ridden over 1f out, plugged on inside final furlong, never able to get back on terms
steadied start, held up in close 4th, smooth headway on outside over 2f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, won with ears pricked, ran on well
led and set steady pace, quickened 3f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, soon ridden, kept on
Apres Midi and Princess Nia ended last year with maiden wins though the former’s victory came at Hamilton back in August. Both step up in distance on their return to action and are preferred to Tuolumne Meadows. But STAR OF LOMBARDY has got her act together recently having missed most of last year and bids for a hat-trick having followed a success at Wolverhampton with a victory at Southwell. There should be more to come from Mark Johnston’s filly and she get the nod.
Apres Midi (IRE) 5-6fav (9-0) Made all, clear 6f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on strongly, eased in closing stages, unchallenged, won at Hamilton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) gf in Aug beating Twobeelucky (9-5) by 3l, 5 ran.
Tuolumne Meadows 4-1 (8-13) Prominent, led over 10f out, jinked left 9f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 12 1/4l behind Sir Valentine (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn stks (4) pol in Aug.
Princess Nia (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn fll stks (5) pol in Nov beating Shahabad (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Star Of Lombardy (IRE) 5-2 (9-4) Tracked leader, joined leader 4f out, ridden 2f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (5) pol in Apr beating Storm King (9-10) by nk, 7 ran.