led, lost action and pulled up before halfway
tracked leader, left in lead before halfway, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, in touch, progress 4f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, soon one pace, hung left under pressure close home
chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well
A tight race on paper as COCKNEY, First Fandango and Woodford Belle are separated by just a pound on official figures and the lightly raced pair Tweedledrum and Western Pearl are open to improvement and could well figure. Mark Johnston's runner is put forwards as he is fancied to improve now that he's stepped up in trip following encouraging performances over ten and nine furlongs. He was running on well at Hamilton last time and there's enough in his pedigree to suggest that he should relish this longer trip. First Fandango is a proven stayer and a solid yardstick but lacks the same scope whilst Woodford Belle may have found the run coming too soon when disappointing last time but the fitting of blinkers would have to be a concern. Western Pearl is related to winners over this trip and beyond and showed promise in one run at two whilst Tweedledrum was far from disgraced in a fair claimer at Windsor but this should go to Cockney.
Cockney (IRE) Evensfav (9-0) Tracked leader, challenged over 2f out, ridden and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind I'm Super Too (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 1f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
First Fandango 8-1 (9-4) Chased leading trio, effort on outer going well 3f out, ridden and chasing leaders 2f out, driven and every chance 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Montparnasse (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Tweedledrum 4-1 (8-13) Started very slowly and lost 10 lengths, green and soon pushed along, progress to get in touch in rear 7f out, driven along over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 3 1/2l behind Stags Leap (9-6) at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo clm (5) gf in Jun.
Western Pearl 25-1 (9-0) Slowly away and went left start, green in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, kept on, 5th of 13, 7l behind Eleanora Duse (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Nov.
Woodford Belle (USA) 14-1 (8-13) Tracked leader until over 3f out, weakened and hung left over 2f out, 8th of 9, 19l behind Sea Of Heartbreak (9-7) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
