tracked leader, led just inside final furlong, hard ridden, stayed on well
steadied start, in touch, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
raced freely tracking leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
set steady pace, quickened halfway, hard driven over 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, stayed on strongly close home
Only 3lb separates the field on official ratings but Admiralofthesea, Carina Palace and Gold Beau will all need to improve on last year's efforts if they're to figure. That leaves Clock Opera and CLOSE TOGETHER to fight this one out. The former has been placed twice in maiden company this year without threatening the winner on either occasion and Robert Mills' filly is preferred. She appreciated the drop back to a mile in a handicap here last time when caught close home by Shearian and gets another chance in this.
Admiralofthesea (USA) 17-2 (9-3) Keen tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, 10th of 13, 22l behind Dashing Star (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Carina Palace 4-1 (9-4) In rear, ridden halfway, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 9, 10l behind Seemenomore (8-4) at Southwell 6f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Nov.
Close Together (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, not much room and switched left over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Shearian (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Gold Beau (FR) 5-1 (9-7) Behind, switched inside and headway 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 11, 7l behind Sakhee's Rose (9-7) at Kempton 6f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.
Clock Opera (IRE) 3-1 (8-7) Led until over 2f out, stayed on under pressure, not pace of winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Sand Boy (8-12) at Kempton 6f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Jan.
