slowly into stride, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, weakened inside final furlong
led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never dangerous
tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
soon mid-division, chased leaders over 4f out, every chance over 2f out, kept on and held towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, joined leader over 3f out, led over 2f out, held on well towards finish
behind, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, went 4th inside final furlong, no impression
A number of these have struggled to build upon promising efforts in the past and none more so than HIKMA. Mark Johnston's filly looked useful during the winter but she has slumped to a mark of 59 after a series of below par efforts on the turf so the assessor is at least doing his bit. Lord Franklin showed very little in maidens but soft ground seems to suit, and he almost saw off his rivals under some very enterprising tactics at Ayr. Sweetnessandlight is better known as a Fibresand specialist though she has placed previously on turf. Conversely, Alpha Arion ran no sort of race on his first experience of Southwell, but with Tim Easterby's stable in such buoyant form, it wouldn't be the biggest of surprises to see him taking a hand.
Sweetnessandlight 5-2fav (8-8) Soon outpaced, behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, never troubled leaders, nearest finsh, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Ursula (9-2) at Southwell 7f fll hcp (0-75) (3yo+) (5) fbs.
Hikma (USA) 9-2 (9-4) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, effort over 3f out, never on terms, weakened over 2f out, last of 7, 38l behind Fine Altomis (9-2) at Musselburgh 1m 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Jun.
Well Bank (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 4th of 9, 8l behind Moodhill (9-3) at Doncaster 7f 3yo mdn (5) sft.
Sweet Liberta (IRE) 22-1 (8-10) Held up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 13, 10l behind Keene Dancer (8-10) at Windsor 1m mdn flls stks (5) gf.
Alpha Arion (IRE) 9-2fav (9-1) In touch when stride faultered and lost place after 1f, soon behind, no danger after, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Kung Hei Fat Choy (9-2) at Southwell 1m mdn hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Poontoon (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Held up, never on terms, 11th of 20, 12l behind Sir Pedro (9-3) at Doncaster 6f mdn auc stks (5) gd in May.
Lord Franklin 12-1 (8-6) Led, hard pressed over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Oddysey (9-10) at Ayr 7f 3yo app hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Tallula (IRE) 100-1 (8-2) Led to 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 9, 13l behind Johnny Cavagin (8-12) at Doncaster 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Jun.
Windygoul Lad 11-1 (9-1) Toward rear, ridden after 2f, keeping on when short of room and snatched up inside final furlong, not recover, 7th of 9, 9l behind Lord Buffhead (8-9) at Musselburgh 5f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) gs in May.