set strong pace, ridden 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, headed near finish
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen close up, headway and switched left over 1f out, soon chased leader, challenged inside final furlong, driven to lead near finish
in touch, pushed along and slightly outpaced over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, slightly outpaced 4f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
THAQAFFA just failed to catch the winner in a tougher handicap here last month. He’s been raised 4lb but drops in class and is preferred to Frenchman. The latter won a maiden race by a short-head at Lingfield last time but the runner-up has been beaten since. Figurante landed a lower grade contest on the Turf at Lingfield but the unexposed pair Rhythm And Blues and Zabdi may improve past her and the likes of Staintondale Lass and Stars N Angels.
Frenchman (FR) 3-1 (9-0) Made most, ridden over 1f out, driven out, just held on, won at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (5) pol in May beating Dubai Mission (9-0) by shd, 13 ran.
Thaqaffa (IRE) 5-1 (8-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, every chance inside final furlong, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Bathos (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp (4) gd in May.
Staintondale Lass (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, ran on, unable to challenge, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Toriano (9-7) at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in May.
Penwortham (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 2l behind Quick N Quirky (9-7) at Musselburgh 7f hcp (5) gf in May.
Rhythm And Blues 5-1 (9-4) Prominent, every chance over 1f out, faded final furlong, 7th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Mywayistheonlyway (9-5) at Doncaster 6f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Figurante (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Raced wide in touch, headway over 1f out, ridden to join leader inside final furlong, led close home, won at Lingfield 7f hcp fll (5) gd in May beating Make Music (9-6) by ns, 10 ran.
Zabdi 7-2fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/4l behind Ruby Wednesday (9-5) at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Stars N Angels (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Soon tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Briyouni (9-7) at Nottingham 1m hcp (5) gd in May.
Macho Mac 7-2fav (9-7) Raced keenly, chasing leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Bushwise (8-7) at Chepstow 6f hcp (6) gs in Apr.