prominent, effort when not much room over 1f out, no extra
held up mid-division, headway over 2f, ridden and one pace final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f, every chance approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace
held up mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed and no extra approaching final furlong
held up, effort when not much room over 2f out, never troubled leaders
towards rear, never dangerous
held up, ridden 2f out, led approaching final furlong, kept on well
prominent to halfway, pushed along 3f out, weakened final furlong
Ben Lomand's second to Tante Rose at Newmarket late last season entitles him to consideration. Go For Success is related to Arazi on his dam's side and, given that he is out of a Rainbow Quest mare, might appreciate further than this seven-furlong trip. Hov was fifth to the very useful Somnus on his debut at York in July and is another for the shortlist. James Caird is hard to assess but his dam - a maiden with one placed effort to her name - was beaten in a seller at one point in her career. Liffey, whose dam won over 12 furlongs, has also to be considered from the Paul Cole yard and with Kieren Fallon booked. He raced freely on his debut at Goodwood last August but normal improvement would bring him into the reckoning. Merlin's Dancer, whose dam - who was useful between 8 and 10 furlongs in the States - is a half-sister to very useful USA performer Golden Apples and Barry Hills' Group winner Alexander Three D, has solid, if unspectacular, juvenile form but could well progress this year. Midnight Song (the lesser fancied of Ed Dunlop's two runners on jockey bookings, it would seem) cost $150,000 as a yearling, and ought to be better than he has shown so far. Rosti will come here fit but has been beaten in two AW events thus far. Lady Glyde showed some promise at two but cannot be fancied here, while Paddy Winalot will be available at long odds. This leaves us with the Barry Hills pair, the unraced San Antonio, whose dam was no world beater but won a 13 furlong event at Hamilton, and Weavers Pride. The trainer has a fine record at Doncaster , and had a winner on the opening day of this year's fixture. Considered good enough to run in last season's Champagne Stakes, he will have been wound up for this contest, a race the stable won in 2002. He is unlikely to be available at long odds, but his credentials are hard to ignore, and he gets the vote.
