keen, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened quickly over 1f out
held up in touch, not clear run on inside over 2f out, switched left and headway over 1f out, edged left again inside the final furlong, ran on well to go second close home
led early, settled to chase leaders, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
chased leaders for 3f
held up towards rear, switched left and headway on outside well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, did not trouble leaders
very keen, soon tracking leaders, led inside 4f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
soon led, headed inside final 4f, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
in touch, pushed along 3f out, headway 2f out, same pace final furlong
in touch, weakened quickly over 1f out
held up toward rear, headway 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
slowly away, behind until ridden over 2f out, good headway 1f out, stayed on when not much room inside final furlong
Zafarshah was given a great ride by Kieren Fallon when winning at Sandown last time but the David Evans-trained gelding needed every yard of the stiff Sandown mile that day and, back over seven furlongs looks worth taking on, which we do with Chateau Nicol, who gets the nod over Middleton Grey and Young Alex. The selection is well treated on his best form having slipped to an attractive mark and showed last time, when a close fifth behind Master Robbie, that his turn may be coming soon. Dropped 2lbs since then, Chateau Nicol looks worth chancing against a poor favourite. Middleton Grey finished two lengths ahead of the selection in Master Robbie's race at Newbury last month (Young Alex fourth) and has every chance on only 3lb worse terms but, at the odds, Brendan Powell's horse makes more appeal. With Henry Candy's stable in such fine form, Amnesty has to be respected, while a market move for Tony Carroll's Kanz Wood would be of some interest.
