wide early, raced keenly, headway on outside chasing leaders 5f out, stayed on towards finish, not quite pace to challenge
wide early, soon steadied towards rear, some headway on outside over 1f out, soon one pace and no impression
wide early, soon steadied into last pair, behind final 3f, never a factor
held up towards rear on inside, never threatened
tracked leaders on outside, headway 2f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, kept on
prominent, went 2nd 5f out, challenged over 1f out, soon ridden to lead, stayed on
held up in rear, never on terms
keen, tracked leaders on inside, ridden and weakened 2f out
led after 1f, jumped path over 3f out, travelling well 2f out, ridden and joined over 1f out, soon headed, lost 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on
pulled hard, led 1f, settled 3rd 5f out, weakened inside final 2f
held up towards rear, some headway under pressure over 1f out, no impression
This looks wide-open with a speculative vote going to WARBURTON, a close-up fourth at Chelmsford last month with the rest of the field seven lengths behind. Ryan Moore partners Akvavera, a winner at Beverley in September, while Delsheer ended last year with a victory at Windsor. Christopher Wood and Faadhel finished runner-up on their respective reappearances while the more exposed Corazon Espinado bids for a hat-trick raised a further 4lb as he returns to the Turf. Cuban Heel is not out of this either off his current mark having been gelded over the winter.
Akvavera 5-6fav (9-0) Raced keenly, made all, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Beverley 7f fll stks (4) gf in Sep beating Frolic (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Christopher Wood (IRE) 22-1 (9-1) Led centre group, prominent when merged with far side group halfway, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, always looked held by winner, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Breath Caught (9-6) at Newmarket 1m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Delsheer (FR) 15-8fav (9-2) Led, headed over 6f out, led again 3f out, headed over 1f out, bumped inside final furlong, soon led again, edged left close home, held on, won at Windsor 1m stks (5) gs in Oct beating Celestin's (8-11) by shd, 9 ran.
Deadly Accurate 7-2 (9-7) Edged left after 100yds, tracked leaders until over 5f out, close up, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 10 3/4l behind Zoraya (9-7) at Goodwood 7f (4) sft in Oct.
Cuban Heel 6-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Indomeneo (9-2) at Leicester 7f stks (2) sft in Oct.
Corazon Espinado (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Raced freely, tracked leader, led over 5f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Battle Lines (9-3) by 1l, 7 ran.
Optimum Time (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Prominent early, no extra from over 1f out, 22nd of 29, 25 1/2l behind Snazzy Jazzy (9-5) at Curragh 6f stks Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Enzo (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) In rear, ridden inside final furlong, no impression, last of 7, 6 1/4l behind Luna Eclipse (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Warburton (IRE) 5-2 (9-2) Led, ridden over 1f out, soon headed, weakened towards finish, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Well Suited (9-2) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (5) pol in Mar.
Jack Taylor (IRE) 15-8 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Lord Oberon (9-7) at Southwell 6f stks (5) pol in Apr.
Faadhel (GER) 11-4 (9-2) Raced wide tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, very wide into straight 2f out and lost ground, ridden and ran on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Jungle Room (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Apr.
