pulled hard, tracked leaders after 3f, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
made all, ran on well, clear final furlong, easily
always towards rear, lost touch 6f out, tailed off
chased winner, ridden 3f out, not pace of winner 2f out, lost 2nd entering final furlong
in touch, hampered after 1f and dropped rear, outpaced over 4f out, stayed on past beaten horses from 2f out
tracked leaders, effort over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place 7f out, headway and not clear run 4f out, went 3rd over 3f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, no chance with winner
River Beauty and Ashleys Poppy look the two to beat on what we have seen so far and narrow preference is for River Beauty. The selection gets plenty of weight here from her rivals and having shown plenty of ability when third on her debut at the track. She looks pacy enough to win at this trip and gets the vote accordingly. The same may not be said for Ashleys Poppy who looks to already need further than two miles and the drop in trip is unlikely to play to her strengths. Bristol Delauriere is the most interesting of the newcomers and is fairly well-related, whilst Smart N Sharp and Lennox Gardens may both improve for their debut runs but the feeling is that both will need to. Murphy's Mate was outpaced over course and distance last time out and the same scenario is likely today so we will return to River Beauty for the winner.
Paradigm Shift Night Shift gelding, half-brother to 1m4f winner Alrafidain.
Ashleys Poppy (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Led, ridden 2f out, headed close home, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Calaficial (11-11) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) pol.
Bristol Delauriere (FR) Epistolaire gelding, half-brother to winning chaser Belle Divine.
Lennox Gardens 10-3 (10-8) Chased leaders, chased winner after 5f, ridden and weakened over 4f out, 7th of 9, 39l behind Youngstown (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f nhf (5) sft in Feb.
Murphy's Mate 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 35l behind Aboukir Bay (10-7) at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) sft in Jan.
Smart N Sharp (IRE) 100-1 (10-1) In touch, headway over 10f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 24l behind Front Of House (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (5) gf.
River Beauty 6-1 (9-11) Keen, mid-division, headway 7f out, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Ashleys Petale (10-4) at Fontwell 1m 6f mdn nhf (6) gd in Feb.
