with leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened, eased final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden halfway, kept on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, towards rear, never dangerous
missed break, towards rear, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden and effort 2f out, no extra final furlong
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
missed break, soon midfield, pushed along halfway, brief effort over 1f out, soon weakened
swerved left start, soon chasing leaders, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, kept on
midfield, pushed along halfway, headway final furlong, ran on well towards finish
in touch, pushed along and outpaced halfway, kept on final furlong
slowly into stride, towards rear, hampered over 2f out, never dangerous after
slowly into stride, soon in touch, effort 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, effort and chance inside final furlong, close 3rd when not much room towards finish
slightly hampered start, towards rear, switched left 2f out, effort over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
Without any genuine inside information, and only breeding and rumours to go on, this race is probably even harder than the opener. Bryan McMahon has an excellent record in this race in recent years, largely because he tends to buy two-year-olds specifically for early season races. Although Cotosol does not particularly appeal on breeding, he must be respected. Bill Turner won this race last year with The Lord and more than half of his runners in the last ten years have been placed, so we will side with the Hector Protector colt, Gameset'n'match, who is a February foal and therefore one of the oldest in the race as well. Mick Channon's Mac Love, a 45,000 guinea purchase by first season sire, Cape Cross, is probably one to keep on the right side as far as placepot backers are concerned, and others worthy of note are Clive Brittain's First Trump colt, Ticero. The Newmarket handler won with his only previous Brocklesby runner, World Premier back in 1995. It seems significant that he started favourite, so the market could well be a good guide to his chances. One more to mention is The Job, whose little-known trainer saddled the runner-up last year, and for whom the booking of Kevin Darley certainly catches the eye. Barry Hills' Efisio filly, farewell To Arms, will no doubt feature prominently in the betting, but fillies generally have a poor record in this. We'll side with Ticero, then, with The Job and Gameset'n'match decent alternatives.
