led and soon clear, came back to field, over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in chasing group, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
in touch in chasing group, effort and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in chasing group, headway to 3rd over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in last place in chasing group, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on (flag start)
tracked leader in chasing group, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out, behind final 2f
chased clear leader, ridden 3f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
ESEEJ is in cracking form and is taken to gain due reward for some consistency at the main expense of I'm In The Pink and Make Amends. The selection has not yet won on turf, but then he has had few tries on it, and even less when there has been cut in the ground. He goes well on the Fibresand in particular and this is his optimum trip, so we hope that we can take advantage of what appears a decent mark. I'm In The Pink has scored once on heavy ground, over 10f at Nottingham in the autumn, and he races from a 4lb higher mark today. He has been tried a few times over this trip, but has not yet convinced that he gets this far, but he is not ruled out. Make Amends is another to have won on heavy going and she is also stepped back up in trip here. Again, she has been unconvincing over this far and there have to be doubts about her getting home if this is anything like a truly run contest. One who does stay is Choral Festival, and her pedigree suggests that she will act with cut underfoot, so she has some sort of claim from bottom weight, though our loyalties here lay with Eseej.
Eseej (USA) 9-4 (9-4) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, held on to 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Daaweitza (9-2) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar.
Goodwood Starlight (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Held up and always behind, 11th of 14, 12l behind Rockfella (8-7) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct.
I'm In The Pink (FR) 13-2 (9-1) Awkward start, keen, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Shadows Lengthen (9-1) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Jan.
Make Amends (IRE) 11-4fav (9-1) Tracked leaders ridden over 2f out, went 3rd briefly 1f out, 4th of 8, 5l behind Mr Hichens (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Hawridge Star (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 10l behind Crocus Rose (8-7) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Enlist 16-1 (9-1) Tracked winner, ridden and weakened well over 1f out, 9th of 12, 9l behind Danderek (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Choral Festival 12-1 (8-13) Held up in mid-division, headway 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Turjuman (9-6) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Zabeel Palace 18-1 (9-9) Held up, effort 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 11, 18l behind Kingscape (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcap (4) gs in Sep '07.
