soon tracking leaders, pushed along 5f out, weakened over 3f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leading pair, ridden and weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, soon struggling
took keen hold, confidently ridden and held up last, headway on bit inside 2f out, pushed in to lead 1f out, soon clear, easily
chased leader, pushed along 3f out, led over 1f out, soon hung right, headed 1f out, no chance with winner
held up in rear, headway under pressure on outer over 2f out, went moderate 4th over 1f out
Dishdasha will be popular as will Colonel Sherman but we'll take the pair on with SHEER FANTASTIC. Fantastic would be an apt word to describe the recent form of Pat Haslam as he has hit the target with four of his last six runners at the time of writing and Sheer Fantastic is taken to defy a penalty. This race should be run to suit him and he's relatively unexposed. Colonel Sherman has been employing front-running tactics to good effect at Lingfield and should make a bold bid to do the same here but that could set the race up for finishers like the selection and Dishdasha. The latter may have a little more up his sleeve and Shane Kelly is a good booking for a horse that needs to be produced late but he's been kept at bay a couple of times in tight finishes now. Ridgeway Jazz is another hold-up performer that could figure and is interesting up in trip but this is likely to be run at a decent gallop and should provide a thorough test of her stamina. Celtic Gold has proven stamina and may benefit from moving back up in trip but we prefer the claims of Sheer Fantastic.
Royal Jasra 20-1 (9-7) Held up, in rear, ridden 3f out, never a factor, 11th of 13, 8l behind Mixing (8-5) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Sept.
Celtic Gold (USA) 16-1 (9-6) Held up behind, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on, not pace to troubled leaders, 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Can Can Star (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Corriolanus (GER) 9-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 5l behind Can Can Star (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Colonel Sherman (USA) 2-1fav (8-12) Led, ridden 2f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 14, nk behind Can Can Star (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Most Definitely (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Always behind, 8th of 11, 30l behind Dove Cottage (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in May.
Dishdasha (IRE) 7-4fav (8-13) Steadied start, held up towards rear, good headway over 1f out, pressed winner inside final furlong, pressed winner inside final furlong, every chance close home, 2nd of 12, hd behind Sunset Boulevard (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-70.
Eseej (USA) 12-1 (9-2) Stumbled start, soon led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 4th of 5, 1l behind Mustajed (9-9) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Ridgeway Jazz 8-1 (8-13) Hampered start, held up, headway over 2f out, hung left inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, went 3rd post, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Snow Dancer (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Mr Napoleon (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 7f out, under pressure over 2f out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Sky Quest (8-5) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Sheer Fantastic 7-2 (8-4) In touch, went 2nd 3f out, ridden 2f out, led 1f out, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating American Spin (9-8) by a nk, 8 ran.
