in touch, ridden halfway, struggling and in rear final 3f, tailed off
in touch, hard ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd over 1f out, no impression
took keen hold, tracked leaders, hard ridden and weakened 2f out
led to 3f out, stayed chasing winner until over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, no impression
tracked leader after 2f, led 3f out, ridden well clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly
dwelt, behind, pushed along halfway, soon beaten
chased leaders 2f, stayed prominent until weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, struggling final 3f
John Dunlop had three entered in this originally but plumps for Hathrah as his only runner, and we should take the tip, with Spring Surprise and Halicardia the best of the rest. Hathrah one only once from four starts last term, but was second in both the Group 2 May Hill Stakes and the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury when last seen out in October. Dunlop's runner should be forward enough to do herself justice and it taken to do so. Darryll Holland is booked for Halicardia, who steps up to a mile, having won twice over a furlong shorter last year. The Halling filly is also stepping up in grade too, though good judge Peter Harris is clearly confident that she will do so or she would not be in the line-up. She is unproven on this type of ground, but is well capable of running a big race. Meanwhile Spring Surprise is Barry Hills' representative and it will be interesting to see how she has wintered. A ready winner of a big field maiden at Doncaster in November she is bred for this sort of trip and can make the frame, but for the selection we will go with the talented Hathrah.
