tracked leader, driven halfway, hard ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead closing stages
led, raced keenly, hung badly left over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
held up in rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened final furlong
outpaced in rear, weakened and eased over 3f out, virtually pulled up
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge well over 1f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
started very slowly, behind, headway over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression
Nonrunner
The return to a downhill track can see MUJOOD bounce back to form and he can win ahead of Cheviot and Ocean Countess. Eve Johnson-Houghton's gelding was well-held on his reappearance at Sandown but that was a tough place to start. He is now dropped into a 0-90 handicap and this course winner is back down to his last winning mark so it all adds up to a big run. Cheviot tries blinkers for the first time; his trainer is in fantastic form and although he doesn't really strike as a Brighton horse he cannot be dismissed. Mesa Maruader has been given a break since a Lingfield flop, Royal Defence was progressive last year but this looks a tough reappearance, whilst My Gacho has won here before and is now well-handicapped but he looks out of love with the game at present. Of more interest then is the consistent Southandwest, certainly for place betting, whilst Ocean Countess is 4lb higher in a better race following a good win here last time out. Totally Focussed is well-handicapped but needs to prove that he can be as good on turf as on the all-weather, however we are happy to plump for Mujood as the selection.
Mujood 20-1 (8-8) Held up in touch, weakened over 2f out, last of 8, 12l behind Mabait (8-12) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
Cheviot (USA) 8-11fav (9-1) Led early, tracked leaders, disputing close 2nd over 2f out, soon hanging left, weakened inside final furlong, last of 6, 11l behind Dubai Dynamo (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Mar.
Mesa Marauder 66-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 7, well behind Gitano Hernando (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Feb.
Royal Defence (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Prominent, effort 2f out, one pace under pressure, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Tiger Reigns (9-1) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Sep.
My Gacho (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 17l behind Red Somerset (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Southandwest (IRE) 3-1fav (9-4) Chased leaders, edged right and carried head high over 1f out, edged left and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Malcheek (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
Totally Focussed (IRE) 28-1 (7-12) Took keen hold in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, not pace to get competitive, 10th of 15, 13l behind Alainmaar (9-10) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gd in Apr.
Ocean Countess (IRE) 15-2 (8-10) Held up, headway on outer 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Brighton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr beating My Learned Friend (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
