dwelt and behind, soon chased along, never dangerous
held up behind leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders to halfway
started slowly and towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, driven over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, effort halfway, no impression
prominent, led over 2f out, driven and kept on gamely final furlong, held on
tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, held
mid-division, chased along halfway, headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
Mezuzah is a speculative selection as he drops down to a mark from which he last came home in front. He is versatile with regard to ground conditions and does go well fresh. Last season, connections campaigned him in handicaps where he simply was out of his depth and taking into account he hails from the Easterby stable, market support should inform you of expectations on his seasonal debut. Cha Cha Cha will head the market and deserves to but at the likely cramped odds we will oppose her. Kevin Ryans' filly has an improving profile, confirmed by her Musselburgh win on Sunday where she did not enjoy the clearest of passages but she still won convincingly. Valery Borzov is stepped up to 7f for the first time having been campaigned over 5 and 6 furlongs last season. If he does see out the trip he is likely to be one of the leading players but that would be a worry on ground softer than ideal. Red Romeo is another with the benefit of recent outings but this will be tougher than the events in which he achieved his all-weather victories. Mezuzah is a speculative each way choice where Cha Cha Cha will take a deal of beating on the evidence of her Musselburgh victory.
Red Romeo 7-1 (8-7) Soon behind and outpaced, kept on final 2f, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Kabeer (8-1) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Jan.
Gunfighter (IRE) 9-4fav (9-6) Held up, shaken up 2f out, no headway, 4th of 5, 9l behind Abbondanza (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (4) pol in Dec.
Stevie Gee (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Held up, effort and edged left over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 6, 7l behind Silver Hotspur (8-8) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Nuit Sombre (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) In touch and led after 2f, ridden and headed halfway, weakened over 2f out, 13th of 18, 40l behind The Osteopath (8-8) at Redcar 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Cha Cha Cha 4-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven clear final furlong, comfortably, won at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd beating Pure Imagination (8-5) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Starlight Gazer 11-1 (9-2) Behind, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, 16th of 21, 13l behind Gunfighter (8-13) at Doncaster 7f app hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Valery Borzov (IRE) 11-8fav (8-13) Held up in rear, ridden, headway over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, took 2nd final strides, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Ishetoo (9-1) at Thirsk 5f 3yo hcp (4) gf in Sept.
Against The Grain 11-1 (8-6) Led near side to over 2f out, soon weakened, 15th of 16, 23l behind Dunelight (9-2) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (2) gd in Jul '06.
Mezuzah 14-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway 3f out, soon ridden, not clear run 2f out, no impression on leaders final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Kinsya (9-6) at Leicester 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Oct.
Cornus 6-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden and beaten well over 1f out, 7th of 9, 4l behind Financial Times (9-1) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Hiccups 7-1 (9-1) Held up, effort over 2f out, soon behind, last of 14, 17l behind Bel Cantor (8-11) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Kenmore 14-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 14, 4l behind Nuit Sombre (9-6) at Catterick 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
