pulled hard, held up rear, in touch to halfway, ridden over 3f out, soon no chance
tracked winner, challenged 2f out, led over 1f out, hard ridden and headed inside final furlong, found little under pressure
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, no progress
led, hard pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, ridden and regained lead inside final furlong, driven out
We will opt for St Francis Wood here ahead of Big Bad Burt, Kitley, Southern Bazaar and Frangipani. The selection was considered good enough to run in a Classic Trial earlier in the year and, stepped up to 10 furlongs for her latest outing, she was just touched off at Lingfield by Swainsong. That form might prove to be ok and, given that she is a well-balanced filly - essential on this track - and the fact that the drop in trip should not bother her - she pulled very hard in the early stages at Lingfield - she is quite clearly the one to beat. Big Bad Burt's form is solid - it can be rated around the mid-60s - and this gelding looks set to bag some money again, while Kitley was not far behind him at Lingfield and should appreciate the step up in trip. Pregnant Pause's best two- and three-year-old form also equates to around the mid 60s, so his chance cannot be dismissed although opinions are divided as to whether trip short of a mile should suit him better. Barry Hills runs the very useful Perfect Sunday's half-brother Southern Bazaar here, and he showed plenty of promise on his Newmarket debut last August, and the form of that race has worked out pretty well. He is another to consider, as is Paul Cole's Frangipani, who was fourth in an Italian Listed race last time but, overall, we are happy to stick with St Francis Wood, who is taken to score.
