raced wide in touch, ridden 4f out, driven 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up in left place, ridden 3f out, never troubled leaders
keen early, in touch, ridden to chase leader entering final 2f, driven to lead and hung left 1f out, all out and held on well
chased leader until entering final 2f, soon weakened
in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, never near leaders
in rear, ridden entering final 2f, driven and kempt on final furlong nearest finish
mid-division, outpaced 4f out, driven and kept on approaching final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
always in rear
slowly into stride, keen, mid-division when unseated rider 9f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed and bumped 1f out, driven inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just held
TOBAGO BAY looks worth siding with here although a case can also be made for Dayia and Epsom Salts. This four-year-old from the Sheena West yard is fit from a winter campaign over hurdles and he returns to the level racing off what appears to be a fair mark. He has no trip or ground worries and he can run a big race. Dayia won well last time at Great Leighs and this filly remains unexposed so there could be more to come. Epsom Salts was only narrowly beaten in a competitive handicap last time, but he has an absence to overcome today and he may be sharper for the run. Isabelonabicycle is from a yard in top form so she could go well at a price, but Tobago Bay looks a safer bet and he gets the nomination.
Dayia (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Close up, always travelling well, ridden 2f out, led entering final furlong, stayed on, won at Great Leighs 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Special Pearl (9-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Epsom Salts 9-4fav (8-1) Held up mid-division, headway, squeezed through 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, driven, headed post, 2nd of 8, ns behind Greenwich Village (9-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Isabelonabicycle 11-4 (9-6) Prominent, raced keenly, went 2nd 7f out, swished tail several times after, led 3f out, headed well over 1f out, soon beaten, 2nd of 9, 8l behind El Bravo (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol.
Rutba 3-1fav (9-4) Led after 2f, pressed 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on well for 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Irish Ballad (8-11) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Eastwell Smiles 10-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 14l behind Kavaloti (9-8) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Go Amwell 4-1fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, some headway over 4f out, ridden and struggling over 3f out, 11th of 16, 28l behind Munlochy Bay (10-11) at Goodwood 2m Am hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Whitcombe Spirit 9-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 2f out, stayed on to go 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 7l behind Warming Up (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Mar '08.
Generous Star 7-2fav (9-3) Held up, headway over 1f out, switched right inside and kept on, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Rough Sketch (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Up In Arms (IRE) 15-2 (8-11) Mid-division, hampered, hit rail and unseated rider 10f out, in a race won by Barbirolli (8-8) at Folkestone 1m 4f app hcp 0-60 (6) gf, 14 ran.
Lupita (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 18l behind Synonymy (8-9) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp (5) gf in May.
Calculating (IRE) 13-8fav (8-6) Fly jumped start, soon prominent, tracked leader over 6f out to over 4f out, ridden 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar beating William's Way (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Tobago Bay 9-2 (7-9) Pressed leader, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, still every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Pseudonym (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcap (5) gf in Sep.
