tracked leaders, under pressure over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
always in rear
prominent, keen early, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, eased
soon led, driven clear over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on strongly to lead closing stages
mid-division, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on closing stages
awkward start, behind, never nearer
mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out
EMPRESS ADELAIDE left it too late to catch Thomas Hobson over 1m4f at Goodwood in October but had beaten a subsequent winner over today's trip at Sandown before that. With further progress expected this season, she gets the vote to make a winning reappearance. Heavy Metal's recent win came over a mile on fast ground at Brighton so he's hard to fancy and stablemate Skytrain's recent success came at Wolverhampton. Hydrant has been getting closer and has slipped further down the weights but El Bravo remains 10lb higher than last year's victory at Doncaster.
Empress Adelaide 7-2fav (8-13) In rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, never nearer, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Thomas Hobson (9-6) at Goodwood 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Heavy Metal 16-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden when weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 42l behind Groundbreaking (9-7) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf.
Halfsin (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Took keen hold in mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, behind and eased final 3f, well tailed off, last of 11, well behind Stellar Express (9-1) at Chester 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) sft.
Skytrain 20-1 (8-13) Outpaced behind and pushed along, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 6l behind King Torus (9-1) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Las Verglas Star (IRE) 5-1 (8-10) Held up in mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, well beaten final 3f, 7th of 8, 15l behind Flow (9-4) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
No Dominion (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Raced wide, keen in touch towards rear, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 16l behind Knight Owl (9-7) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Tatting 33-1 (8-12) In rear, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 7l behind Tenor (8-2) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gf.
Hydrant 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Muharrer (9-0) at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Dolphin Rock 10-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 17, 21l behind Ansaab (9-7) at Pontefract 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Apr.
Gabrial The Duke (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Took keen hold and held up in last pair, pushed along and hung badly left from 3f out, driven over 2f out, not run on, 6th of 7, 12l behind Nullarbor Sky (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
El Bravo 25-1 (9-0) Chased leaders on outside, weakened over 2f out, 15th of 18, 20l behind Perfect Summer (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
