slowly into stride, held up rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, not reached winner
tracked leader, joined leader over 2f out, every chance, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on again final furlong, not reached winner
held up in rear, some progress over 2f out, never troubled leaders
raced wide in mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly, eased final furlong
held up mid-division, headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on well, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden, effort over 2f out, not quicken, weakened over 1f out
led, hard pressed from 2f out, stayed on well under pressure, headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
pulled hard towards rear, always behind
From a short list containing Arabian Sea, Royal Challenge and Wagtail, we will opt for Arabian Sea. Arabian Sea is six pounds better off with Royal Challenge, the sole course winner in the line-up, for a length and three quarters based on 10-furlong form here and could turn that around in first-time blinkers. That said, Royal Challenge is lightly raced and on the up and has proven himself in tactical affairs so is not ruled out by any stretch of the imagination. Wagtail won her all-weather maiden well enough and then seemed not to see out the trip at Nottingham last time. Back at a mile, she can go well. Punjab comes here on a roll and is bidding to defy a penalty for a recent win but possibly has something to prove on the all-weather. Finally, Iluustrious Blue possibly has something to prove too, Cindertrack is open to improvement and could make the frame, while Mujood has been running well in Turf handicaps of late and could yet go well but, for the selection, we will stick with Arabian Sea.
Illustrious Blue 7-4fav (8-13) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Days of My Life (8-7) at Goodwood 7f 3yo hcp (4) sft in May.
Arabian Sea (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Soon led and set steady pace, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, 13th of 15, 26l behind Pearly King (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) sft in May.
Mujood 18-1 (8-12) Keen in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 6l behind Stage Gift (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gf in May.
Lady Cree (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon beaten, 11th of 12, 14l behind Famcred (8-13) at Yarmouth 7f 2yo fll hcp (4) gd in Sept.
Local Fancy 9-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden to lead 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, caught last strides, 3rd of 6, nk behind Best Guess (8-11) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (4) hvy in May.
Wagtail 10-11fav (8-6) Held up in rear, keen, soon prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Solva (8-8) at Nottingham 1m 2f fll hcp (4) gf in May.
Cindertrack 14-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, edged left 1f out, not quicken well inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Makai (8-8) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp (5) fbs in May.
Punjabi 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp (6) gd beating October Ben (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
