made all, ridden 2f out, ran on
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
held up, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, not trouble leaders
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
went right start, slowly into stride, always in rear
tracked winner, ridden an every chance over 2f out, one pace and lost 3rd inside final furlong
tracked winner, ridden and every chance over 2f out, chased winner 2f out, hung left 1f out, no impression
Jeremy Gask's Royal Riviera was a very comfortable winner of his only start in a bumper on soft ground at Wetherby in December and he has to be respected on his Flat racing debut on admittedly faster going but a better bet looks to be EMERGING ARTIST, who gets the vote over Bombadero. John Dunlop's colt has shown improved form for being stepped up to middle distances this term and the son of Sadler's Wells should be involved at the business end of the race again but he may once more have to settle for minor honours. Mick Quinlan's Joan d'Arc ran promisingly on her debut at Brighton earlier this month but he needs to step up on that effort to trouble the judge. Jamie Osborne's Never Can Tell ran promisingly on his first start in a handicap at Goodwood recently and has claims but preference is for Emerging Artist. Mark Johnston's gelding kept on at one pace when a close up fourth behind Very Good Day at Haydock 12 days ago and he should improve for that run so looks worth siding with on only his second start.
Emerging Artist (FR) 11-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Very Good Day (8-13) at Haydock 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gd.
Mhilu (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Tendency to jump right, tracked leader, led briefly 6th, remained challenging, driven to lead soon after last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd beating Tri Nations (10-12) by 5l, 6 ran.
Royal Riviera 5-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, headway on bit over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon clear, eased towards finish, won at Wetherby 1m 5f 3yo nhf (5) hvy in Dec beating Pie At Midnight (10-12) by 12l, 13 ran.
Genes Of A Dancer (AUS) Galileo gelding out of Jugah's Dancer.
Shannon Falls (FR) 66-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, rapid headway on outside over 7f out, led 6f out, ridden over 1f out, headed 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Two Oclock John (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Bombadero (IRE) 4-7fav (9-3) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd on inside 5f out, led narrowly over 2f out, kept slight lead until headed 1f out, pressed winner until no extra final 50 yards, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Caucus (9-3) at Chepstow 1m 4f 3yo mdn (5) gf in May.
Never Can Tell (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Slight lead, set steady pace, travelling well 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression when lost 2nd final 110 yards, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Boston Blue (9-5) at Goodwood 1m 6f 3yo mdn hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Boomtown Kat 10-3 (10-12) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on gamely from last, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May '09 beating Now Listen To Me (10-12) by ns, 13 ran.
Deejan (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Slowly into stride,towards rear, good headway to lead after 1f, headed well over 3f out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 24l behind Desert Sage (8-12) at Chepstow 1m 4f 3yo fll stks (5) gd.
Joan D'Arc (IRE) 12-1 (8-4) Steadied in rear but in touch, effort over 3f out, soon raced wide, weakened over 1f out, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Ebony Boom (8-12) at Brighton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf.
