in touch, headway over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
dwelt, towards rear, never dangerous
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
towards rear, effort 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, soon eased
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace
towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on to lead towards finish
chased leaders, challenged over 2f out, led well over 1f out, headed towards finish, kept on
held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace
held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
with leader, lost place quickly over 2f out
dwelt, towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
dwelt, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, weakened 2f out
dwelt, held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
towards rear, headway 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, soon headway, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, led over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
behind, stayed on well inside final furlong, nearest at finish
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
It will be some feat if Richard Fahey can win this for the fourth year in a row but Viva Ronaldo arrives in fine form and could go close. Aerodynamic, Jungle Bay and Sound Amigo have also been running well on the all-weather and are worthy of consideration, though Count Bertoni was taking advantage of a lower mark on the Polytrack when scoring at Wolverhampton last time and is 11lb higher today. Silvery Moon ended last season with a success at Ayr and has claims on his reappearance, but the vote goes to ELLIE IN THE PINK who rattled up a hat-trick on turf last autumn and will have come on for her recent comeback at Kempton.
Thunderball 12-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, lost place 2f out, 9th of 12, 6l behind Seek The Fair Land (8-12) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jan.
Viva Ronaldo (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) Raced wide, held up in touch, ridden and unable to quicken over 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 4th close home, 4th of 9, 1 3/4l behind George Guru (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Polish World (USA) 40-1 (8-11) Raced alone stands' side, close up, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 13, 13l behind Mia's Boy (8-11) at Doncaster 7f cond Stakes (3) gd in Oct.
Silvery Moon (IRE) 11-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on and held on near finish, won at Ayr 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Sep beating Swiftly Done (9-5) by nk, 13 ran.
Zacynthus (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Keen raced wide prominent, pushed along over 3f out, edged left approaching 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 8l behind Emerald Wilderness (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Celtic Sultan (IRE) 66-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 6l behind Libys Dream (8-12) at Wolverhampton 7f Listed stks (1) pol in Mar.
Bawaardi (IRE) 7-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 4l behind Tombi (8-12) at Wolverhampton 7f sell stks (6) pol in Mar.
Karaka Jack 12-1 (9-2) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost place, 13th of 15, 17l behind Fantasy Gladiator (9-1) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Oct.
Sound Amigo (IRE) 15-8 (8-7) Led early, tracked leader, ridden and every chance from over 1f out until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind True To Form (9-2) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Feb.
Amazing Amoray (IRE) 28-1 (9-3) Mid-division stands'side, effort 2f out, never dangerous, 12th of 25, 9l behind Coolminx (9-6) at Ayr 6f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Little Black Book (IRE) 13-8fav (9-2) Went left start, prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression on leaders, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind The Guru Of Gloom (9-0) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Count Bertoni (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Made all, ridden over 2f out, edged right inside final furlong, just held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sep beating Key Breeze (9-0) by nk, 11 ran.
Oratory (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Always behind, last of 19, 33l behind Dhaular Dhar (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Barkston Ash 33-1 (8-9) Awkward start, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out, last of 10, 34l behind White Frost (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) sft in Aug.
Al Muheer (IRE) 11-4 (9-8) With leader, under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 14l behind Roninski (8-8) at Redcar 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Aug.
Ellie In The Pink (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Dwelt, held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 10l behind Qaraaba (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Mar.
Aerodynamic (IRE) 7-2fav (9-2) Set steady pace until headed over 5f out, remained prominent, effort when not clear run entering final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Thunderstruck (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Sonning Rose (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Raced wide mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 13l behind Dimension (9-4) at Ascot 7f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Sep.
Jungle Bay 13-8fav (9-5) In rear, headway on inside over 1f out, ran on final furlong, not clear run close home, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Lastkingofscotland (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Rio Cobolo (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Mid-division on outside, ridden well over 2f out, never able to challenge, weakened final furlong, 11th of 13, 18l behind Beckermet (9-3) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Musnad (USA) 11-4fav (9-3) Dwelt held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on, not trouble leaders, 5th of 8, 8l behind Alfred Hutchinson (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan.
Jalors (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed approaching 1f out, kept on, one pace, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Muntasib (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Oct '10.