led, headed over 1f out, one pace
tracked leader, one pace final furlong, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, stayed on well
went left start, soon tracking leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
Nonrunner
On paper there's little between the three principles but our preference is for ZEGNA ahead of Major Lawrence and Ajjaad. Brian Smart's gelding had been off the track for over a year before making his all-weather debut in November and ran with distinct promise in taking second. Providing the horse builds on that effort and doesn't regress he should have a really solid chance of going one better here, especially if settling better under Tom Eaves which can be expected with the freshness taken out of him by that last run. Ajjaad has a similar profile to our selection in that he too returned from a lengthy absence to take second last time and is having just his fifth racecourse outing here. That second last time was at Lingfield over five and the horse will surely improve for today's sixth furlong and therefore rates a very real danger to our pick ¿ indeed it is hard to separate them. Major Lawrence must put behind him a very disappointing outing when last seen in October. Jeremy Noseda's colt has started no bigger than 11/4 in four attempts to date and has shown real promise more than once but is becoming frustrating and expensive to follow and looks worth opposing on value grounds despite also having leading form claims. The aforementioned three look to have this between them but if anything is to emerge from the pack it might be Chosen Son who has plenty of solid placed efforts to his name, or Suzi's Dancer who is unexposed but might find six furlongs here a little sharp. Only three that can be given serious chances and whilst separating them isn't easy we've just sided with Zegna.
Ajjaadd (USA) 4-1 (9-3) Raced wide, mid-division, headway on outer approaching 2f out when carried wide into straight, soon ridden, chased winner 1f out, soon no impression, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Master Lightfoot (9-3) at Lingfield 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Major Lawrence (IRE) 11-4fav (9-3) Raced wide mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 12l behind Jonny Mudball (9-3) at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Zegna (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Prominent, led after 2f, ridden 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Spice Run (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Clever Omneya (USA) 50-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 12l behind Wake Up Call (8-9) at Kempton 6f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Lady Dinsdale (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Dwelt, mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 16l behind Copperwood (8-11) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Suzi's Dancer 9-1 (8-12) In touch, improved 2f out, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Leelu (8-12) at Kempton 7f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Chosen Son (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Held up, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Spinning Bailiwick (8-12) at Kempton 5f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Nov.
Nativity 16-1 (8-9) Held up, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind Lord Fidelio (9-3) at Kempton 7f mdn auc stks (5) pol.
