held up towards rear, switched wide and ridden over 2f out, short lived effort over 1f out
in touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, not trouble leaders
tracked leaders, switched right 2f out, soon every chance, ridden to lead just inside final furlong, ran on
set steady pace, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra towards
raced wide in touch, pushed along and lost place 3f out, tailed off
close up, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, headed just inside final furlong, kept on one pace
raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
taken to post early, keen, in touch in rear, ridden 2f out, ran on, nearest finish
A nice prize on offer so no surprise to see Poet's Word and Rockspirit make an appearance. Both showed progressive form last year with the latter winning three times, including a course and distance success, though he’s 8lb higher on his return. The former won twice under Ryan Moore last season but is now 16lb higher than when scoring at Goodwood in July. Fire Fighting should go well at this level but PACTOLUS is preferred having finished just ahead of Qaffaal and Ice Royal when runner-up over track and trip a fortnight ago off today’s mark. Brorocco also returns to action but has a bit to find with Rockspirit on form at Yarmouth in August.
Fire Fighting (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Slow into stride, headway on outer to track leaders after 1f, keen, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Absolute Blast (8-9) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Apr.
Rockspirit (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Held up, closed 2f out, switched right over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, ran on, led near finish, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f stks (3) pol in Oct beating Basem (9-3) by shd, 5 ran.
Poet's Word (IRE) 11-8fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, challenged over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, held when short of room inside final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Central Square (9-6) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Pactolus (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Ickymasho (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Diana Lady (CHI) 100-1 (9-3) Slowly away switched right, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 14, 23 3/4l behind Big Country (8-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Qaffaal (USA) 10-3 (9-3) In touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, driven and ran on towards finish, not reach leaders, 3rd of 6, 1/2l behind Ickymasho (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Intrude 10-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Amazement (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (3) pol in Mar.
Ice Royal (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Raced wide in touch, headway to track leaders over 4f out, ridden and every chance over 1f, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 6, 1/2l behind Ickymasho (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Brorocco 10-1 (8-11) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Saunter (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
