held up in touch in last trio, shaken up to go definate 3rd 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leader, led 2f out, pushed clear final furlong, easily
held up in touch in last trio, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up in touch in last trio, hampered over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed 2f out, outpaced from over 1f out, held on well for 2nd
Not an easy little puzzle to work out. It's conceivable that TEMPLE FAIR may be able to dictate from the front and therefore he is preferred to Keenes Royale and Thundering Home. Mark Johnston's Tiger Hill gelding has not raced past a mile yet but he is bred to be a middle-distance horse (dam a mile up to 10 furlongs) and his latest run at Southwell suggested he needed further. A light-weight will help when the gallop winds up and he gets the nod. Rock Of Eire is another stepping up in trip and cannot be dismissed with a first-time tongue-tie on, whilst Kathindi is another with stamina to prove having won over ten furlongs here at the end of January. Thundering Home seemed to be undone by the lack of a true gallop at Wolverhampton when beaten behind a stablemate of the selection; Hayley Turner is back on-board which is a plus and he looks a solid option if getting the trip. The proven stayer is the progressive Keenes Royale. This filly has improved markedly since stepping up in trip in handicaps and a 9lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop this daughter of Red Ransom if in the same mood. A cracking little race, but we will side with Temple Fair.
Thundering Home 6-4fav (9-1) Tracked leading pair, with winner 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, unable to quicken towards finish, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Whippers Love (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Keenes Royale 11-8fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan beating The Great Husk (8-8) by 2l, 8 ran.
Kathindi (IRE) 5-2 (8-6) Pressed leader, led over 8f out, set steady pace, increased tempo 2f out, hard ridden final furlong, held on, won at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo clm stks (6) pol in Jan beating Magic Spirit (8-3) by hd, 6 ran.
Rock Of Eire 10-1 (8-12) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 5th of 6, 14l behind Nazreef (8-8) at Southwell 1m 2yo nov stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Temple Fair (USA) 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leading pair, chased winner halfway, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Wedding Dream (9-4) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
