held up towards rear, headway on outer approaching 2f out, soon ridden, chased winner inside final furlong, soon no impression
tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden clear
mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, werakened final furlong
close up, ridden 3f out, driven and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out
In a very weak looking race DONCOSAQUE looks the strongest competitor ahead of Mootriba and Duke's Emerald. This selection gets the vote as he is clearly the highest rated in the race and returns to the surface where he posted his only career placing when second of 12 at Wolverhampton in September. That was over an extra furlong longer than this trip but the winner of that race went on to grab silver in much better company and our pick from Henry Cecil's yard looks the best of a bad bunch. Mootriba has run consistently average on two outings so far with interested parties still waiting for improvement which was promised on debut. Her dam is a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas winner Lahan a fact that adds to the belief there should be progress to come but would seem to have a concentration problem with blinkers applied right from her first outing. Duke's Emerald may be a bigger price but as been steadily improving and could well get into the mix here although performances so far have been distinctly average. It¿s not the greatest contest you¿ll ever see with Tarawa Atoll given a minimal chance on the basis of experience and the verdict going to Doncosaque.
Mootriba 11-2 (8-12) Towards rear, shaken up over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 6l behind Redding Colliery (9-3) at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn (4) pol in Oct.
Doncosaque (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) In touch, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 7th of 15, 6l behind Al Marmoom (9-3) at Yarmouth 1m 2yo mdn (5) sft in Oct.
Hold The Bucks (USA) 9-2fav (9-5) In touch, ridden 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 6th of 14, 4 1/2l behind True Britannia (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp (6) pol.
Ringo Zaar 100-1 (9-3) In touch until weakened 3f out, last of 12, 27l behind Calaloo (9-3) at Bath 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Cavendish Road (IRE) 40-1 (9-2) Chased winner until ridden 2f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 22l behind Tepmokea (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Tarawa Atoll 10-1 (8-11) Steadied start, behind, headway over 1f out, never on terms, 6th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Roar of Applause (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp (6) pol.
Border Maid 16-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, ridden halfway, soon struggling, 9th of 10, 10l behind Aroundthebay (8-12) at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn auc (4) pol in Oct.
Duke's Emerald 16-1 (9-3) Started very slowly, in rear, stayed on from over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 6th of 10, 6l behind Takeover Bid (9-3) at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn (5) pol.
