tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
went right start, soon in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
prominent, led 4f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
mid-division, lost place over 4f out, soon behind
prominent, led after 1f, headed 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
slightly awkward start, mid-division, switched right when going well over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, headed towards finish
never better than mid-division
led 1f, prominent, riddden 2f out, soon beaten, weakened final furlong
never better than mid-division
prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, ran on to lead towards finish
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, drifted left 2f out, never in contention
With plenty of newcomers in the line-up this is a typically tricky maiden to call. CEFFYL GWELL has the benefit of experience and only lost out by a nose at Windsor most recently. He is progressive and is comfortably the one to be on against those who have had outings before. However, there are plenty of smartly bred debutants and they are worth consideration, in particular Starbound who cost 400,000 guineas. She is a half-sister to the top-class juvenile Alfred Nobel who won the Phoenix Stakes and connections will hope she gets off to a winning start. Manaaber significantly increased in price as a yearling and with her dam a Group winner in Italy and France she is worth a market check on her first outing. Vantaa didn't show a great aptitude for racing on his first start but Richard Fahey can send out the two-year-old winners and should improve. Skilful, Our Play and Jamaican Bolt are others with claims on their debut appearances. However, we side with Ceffyl Gwell to build upon his previous efforts.
Ceffyl Gwell 15-8fav (9-3) Mid-division, headway well over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, just held post, 2nd of 13, ns behind Sensational Love (8-12) at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Dikanta 100-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, never a factor, 9th of 11, 28l behind Tasfeya (9-3) at Catterick 7f 2yo mdn aut (5) gd in Oct.
Jamaican Bolt (IRE) Pivotal colt out of Chiming.
Our Play (IRE) Oratorio colt out of Red Shoe.
Pope Potter Needwood Blade gelding out of Surrealist.
Rational Act (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Keen tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 15l behind Flag Officer (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct.
Skilful Selkirk colt out of Prowess.
Tommy Tiger 50-1 (9-0) Raced keenly, held up towards rear, driven over 2f out, never dangerous, 10th of 11, 15l behind Western Aristocrat (9-0) at Newmarket 7f mdn stks (4) gs in Oct.
Vantaa (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, under pressure halfway, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 18l behind Namibian (9-3) at York 7f 2yo mdn (2) sft in Oct.
Bailadeira 100-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, edged left and weakened over 2f out, 16th of 17, 22l behind Devastation (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo stks (4) gd in Oct.
Loughtownlady (IRE) 66-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, weakened before halfway, last of 11, 29l behind Blanche Dubawi (9-0) at Redcar 6f 2yo fll mdn (5) gd in Oct.
Manaaber (USA) Medicean filly out of Needlecraft.
Miss Firefox Haafhd filly out of Hayden Grace.
Spinatrix Diktat filly out of Shrink.
Starbound (IRE) Captain Rio filly out of Glinting Desert.
She Deals Gentleman's Deal filly out of Baymist.
