in rear, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, kept on towards finish
held up mid-division, pushed along and not much room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, ridden over 3f out, kept on from over 1f out, no impression
chased leaders, led over 4f out, just held on
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace
dwelt, towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
not much room after start and lost place, headway over 4f out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish
led over 1f, chased leaders, stayed on towards finish, just held
Pearl Blue has taken advantage of favourable terms to land a couple of plating races of late but will find this tougher. Rathaath won a Bath maiden in good style last June but has not raced since while Gran Canaria Queen reversed earlier running with Ridge Ranger on better terms at Ripon last time. The latter pair are closely matched once again and both finished ahead of HOPES N DREAMS at Ripon. But it's the latter who is better off at the weights on this occasion and Kevin Ryan's charge may come out best today.
Pearl Blue (IRE) 7-4fav (9-5) Steadied and switched right after start, held up in last pair, smooth headway on wide outside 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ridden to challenge and edged right inside final furlong, led final 110 yards, won at Windsor 6f clm stks (5) gd beating Jubilee Brig (9-10) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Counter Ridge (SAF) 16-1 (9-6) Mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, one pace, 6th of 14, 4l behind Meshardal (8-9) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Hopes N Dreams (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Awkward start, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 4th of 8, 2l behind Gran Canaria Queen (9-1) at Ripon 6f flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Ridge Ranger (IRE) 6-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on well closing stages, never reached winner, 2nd of 8, nk behind Gran Canaria Queen (9-1) at Ripon 6f flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Cordial 66-1 (8-12) Went left start, chased leaders, weaakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, well behind Aetna (8-12) at Doncaster 6f Listed stks (1) hvy in Nov.
Rathaath (IRE) 7-4fav (9-0) Raced wide early, good speed to get over and soon chased leader, led 2f out, ridden clear final furlong, easily, won at Bath 6f mdn (5) fm in Jun beating Ajaadat (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Tumblewind 12-1 (9-7) Tracked winner, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 9l behind Nameitwhatyoulike (9-4) at Ripon 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Gran Canaria Queen 10-1 (9-1) Made all, hard ridden when pressed from 2f out, kept on well under pressure, won at Ripon 6f flls hcp 0-95 (3) gd beating Ridge Ranger (9-8) by nk, 8 ran.
