held up mid-division, driven and headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
made all, led steady pace, quickened over 3f out, edged left approaching final furlong, battled on gamely
held up behind leader, not much room, switched left over 1f out, again switched right approaching final furlong, ran on towards finish
behind, tailed off 5f out
tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
took keen hold behind winner, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace
held up, headway 2f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
started slowly, towards rear, headway on inner over 1f out, ran on final furlong, held
Not a straightforward race but Shekan Star, Westcourt Dream and Be Wise Girl are shortlisted, with the vote going to Be Wise Girl. Gramada holds claims based on a good run at Bath last time, while the lightly-raced Calamari holds claims based on a fair run last June over today's trip and Tony Culhane is an interesting booking. Snugfit Dubarry has only run twice - on each occasion poorly - since a 2002 maiden win, but the same stable runs Westcourt Dream, the sole course and distance winner in the line-up, and she looks to be on a competitive mark. Be Wise Girl was narrowly beaten from today's mark at Pontefract last May and should be sharper following her seasonal return, while Eminence Gift put in a fair run over today's trip at Ayr last time on easier going, so she might go well, as might World At My Feet, who put in an eyecatching performance on her final start last season, suggesting that she should be able to win from her current mark, as indeed could Shekan Star, who has won from today's mark of late both on Turf and the all-weather, admittedly at Banded level. With Awaken needing to build on her selling win and there being doubts about Dispol Veleta's effectiveness at today's trip, we return to the selection, which is Be Wise Girl.
Dispol Veleta 10-1 (9-2) Held up, effort over 2f out, never reached challenging position, 7th of 14, 5l behind Summer Charm (9-4) at Redcar 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) gf.
Gramada (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, led 2f out, all out when headed close home, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Augustine (9-4) at Bath 1m 2f hcap (6) gs.
Calamari (IRE) 9-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 14l behind Simply St Lucia (8-10) at Newcastle 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Aug.
Snugfit Dubarry 66-1 (9-4) Always behind, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Tyzack (9-2) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
Eminence Gift 7-2co-fav (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Neil's Legacy (8-1) at Ayr 1m 2f 3yo clm (5) sft in Oct.
Westcourt Dream 4-1fav (8-12) Ridden and headed over 1f out, beaten when switched right inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 4l behind Topton (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Awaken 12-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, effort on outside 2f out, weakened 1f out, 10th of 16, 8l behind Serramanna (8-6) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp (6) gd in Sept.
World At My Feet 12-1 (7-11) Behind, headway on outside over 2f out, driven and ran on well final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Magari (8-10) at Redcar 1m 2f sll (6) gd in Sept.
Shekan Star 7-2fav (8-11) Slowly into stride, raced mid-division, ridden, headway to lead over 1f out, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 4f banded stk (7) pol beating Lysander's Quest (8-12) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Be Wise Girl 16-1 (8-13) Chased leader to over 3f out, weakened quickly, 9th of 12, well behind Birthday Star (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcap (6) pol in Mar.
