soon tracking leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, lost touch over 2f out
dwelt, mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 5f out, hung left on bend over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, never able to challenge
chased leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, every chance insided final furlong, just failed
made all, strongly challenged inside final furlong, held on gamely
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer
chased leaders, lost place over 2f out
Richard Hughes presence on Bursledon suggests he's preferred to stablemate Gold Medal, who wears his owners second colours. The former finished fifth at Newmarket in October but the more recent form of SPEED BOOGIE could give Marco Botti's colt the advantage. He was beaten only a length at Wolverhampton last month and can open his account with normal improvement. Polytrack bumper winner Keep Kicking will find today's trip short enough but the winning record of Strategic Strike's relatives suggest today's distance will suit and he's worth noting on his debut.
Keep Kicking (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Fulgora (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Ela Goog La Mou 66-1 (9-9) Slowly into stride, took keen hold towards rear, headway on wide outside over 4f out, chased leaders halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 11th of 12, 13l behind Endorsing (8-13) at Kempton 7f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Mar.
Bold Assertion 33-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, in last pair, struggling over 3f out, never a factor, 7th of 9, 14l behind Spillway (8-8) at Kempton 1m 2f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Mar.
Bursledon (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Close up, ridden over 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 11, 9l behind Mujazif (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Gold Medal (IRE) Dylan Thomas colt out of Sogno Verde.
Speed Boogie 11-1 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Bishop's Castle (10-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Strategic Strike (IRE) Strategic Prince gelding out of Puteri Wentworth.
Loraine 8-1 (8-9) In touch in rear, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 14l behind Swing Easy (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Nov.