pulled hard, tracked leader, challenged going well 2f out, led approaching final furlong, driven to hold on near finish
held up, headway to chase leading pair entering final furlong, chased winner final 50yards, closing well at finish, not quite get up
soon outpaced in rear, effort on inside over 2f out, soon no impression and near reached leaders
chased leaders on outer, ridden and not quicken over 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong but never able to challenge
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, stayed challenging, lost 2nd final 50yards, no extra near finish
There is no doubt that Presto Shinko is favoured by the conditions of today's race and he gets the vote ahead of Border Music and Compton's Eleven. The selection is two-from-two on the all-weather but he came of age on Turf last season, eventually winning a Listed race, albeit it on soft going. If fully tuned up for his return, he looks the one to beat. If not then Border Music, who has looked impressive in winning his last three races, all on the all-weather, and the dual Nad Al Sheba winner, Obe Gold, might be the ones to take advantage. That said, Compton's Eleven is 16 pounds better off for the near-three lengths that he finished behind Border Music at Wolverhampton over seven furlongs last October, with Peace Offering being just four pounds better off for the three lengths that he finished behind the selection when they were first and thirteenth in last season's Ayr Gold Cup, although he has had the benefit of a run this term. Overall, though, we will still stick with Presto Shinko.
Border Music 8-11fav (9-0) Soon led, quickened clear well over 1f out, eased near finish, won at W'hampton 7f stk (2) pol in Mar beating Kamanda Laugh (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Presto Shinko (IRE) 5-1 (8-11) Held up behindl leaders far side, quickened to lead over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, won at Doncaster 6f lst stk (1) sft in Nov beating Tahrir (8-6) by 4l, 13 ran.
Obe Gold 10-1 (9-2) Soon outpaced and behind, 11th of 13, 20l behind Les Arcs (9-2) at Redcar 6f lst stk (1) sft in Mar.
Compton's Eleven 4-1 (8-13) Prominent early, ridden 3f out, every chance 2f out, not quicken, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Cartography (8-9) at Nad Al Sheba 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Indian Trail 9-2 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 8th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Bygone Days (9-2) at Haydock 6f hcp (2) gs in Sept.
Peace Offering (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden and not much room over 1f out, kept on again inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Les Arcs (8-12) at Lingfield 5f stk (2) pol in Mar.
