led for 1f, steadied into mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, keeping on same pace when not clear run inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, hard driven 2f out, closed on leader and went 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven and stayed on well
always behind
held up in rear, headway on wide outside under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd last strides
slowly into stride, took keen hold and soon chasing leader, pushed along 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
led after 1f, 8 lengths clear 3f out, reduced lead and ridden inside final 2f, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2 places near finish
always towards rear
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, driven and headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
in touch on outside, effort and driven along over 2f out, soon one pace, weakened over 1f out
CAPE HAWK is narrowly preferred to Extraterrestrial and Saltagioo. The selection is one of several course and distance winners in the line-up, indeed three of his four career wins have come at this track. He is now rated 98 which is 11lb above his highest winning mark to date but he has run well in defeat (barring when last seen over an unsuitable trip), he goes well fresh and is fancied to run well. Stablemate Cordell returns from over a year on the sidelines and is one to watch in the betting in relation, whilst Checklow is the sort of horse who could easily be well-treated off 88 but he needs to prove that this drop in trip is what he wants. Marco Botti has his horses in good form; backing all of his runners at the track would have led to a massive profit and Saltagioo, a recent course and distance winner, is one to take very seriously of just a 2lb higher mark. Jack Junior should improve for his latest start and will win at some point this season for his new stable, whilst Neil Callan has a good record for Clive Brittain and Mahadee is interesting now dropped in class. Recent Spring Mile runner-up Extraterrestrial and the now-fairly-handicapped Samarinda are two more for consideration, but in a tricky opener it is Cape Hawk who is fancied to lead them home.
Jack Junior (USA) 20-1 (9-3) Raced wide and hung right throughout, towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened entering final 2f, last of 13, 14l behind Abbondanza (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Mar.
Cape Hawk (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) Always behind, eased over 2f out, virtually pulled up, 12th of 13, 41l behind La Sarrazine (8-5) at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (2) sft in Oct.
Mahadee (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden, every chance when hung left 1f out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 8l behind Scintillo (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f Group 3 (1) pol in Mar.
Titan Triumph 16-1 (8-11) In rear stands side, never a factor, 18th of 20, 45l behind Expresso Star (8-12) at Doncaster 1m hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in Mar.
Extraterrestrial 16-1 (9-7) In rear stands side, headway over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, 2nd of 21, 1/2l behind Manassas (9-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in Mar.
Cordell (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) Made virtually all, soon led, ridden clear approaching final furlong, ridden out comfortably, won at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar '08 beating Formation (8-13) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Samarinda (USA) 20-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, settled behind, ridden over 2f out, never troubled leaders from over 1f out, 9th of 13, 7l behind Flipando (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol in Mar.
Saltagioo (ITY) 11-4 (8-9) Tracked leader, effort 2f out, ridden to press leader entering final furlong, led final 100 yards and ran on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) std in Mar beating Viva Vettori (8-10) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Checklow (USA) 4-1 (9-0) Started slowly, soon in touch, ridden 3f out, hung left and right, soon lost place, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong, last of 11, 28l behind Starfala (8-4) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Opus Maximus (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) Prominent stands side, ridden over 2f out, short of room 1f out, one pace final furlong, 7th of 21, 4 1/2l behind Manassas (9-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp (4yo+) (2) gf in Mar.
