led until 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
always prominent, led 2f out, kept on well, ridden out
mid-division, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, mid-division, headway 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
restrained start, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
pulled hard towards rear, switched wide 5f out, headway 3f out, weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, behind, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
hampered on bend 5f out, always towards rear
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, fading when hung left inside final furlong
always mid-division
always towards rear
always towards rear
in touch, snatched up on rail 2f out, soon ridden, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not reach winner
Cape Hawk has saved his best for the track and will be expected to go very, very close from the best of the draw. McNairobi, Nice To Know and Pendulum Star are three others that may provide a little value in a hotly contested contest. Highlights of the selection's career at this venue include a 7 length second to Lucarno, a defeat of star stablemate Malt Or Mash in a handicap and an unlucky in running fourth in the final of the mile handicap series in September. He's expected to improve throughout this season but should be ready to do himself justice at the first time of asking and heads our short-list. Some seasoned performers have decent claims here but three less exposed sorts are worthy of inspection. McNairobi heads them having confirmed her wellbeing with a decent effort on her return; she ran better than the finishing position suggests as she endured a troubled passage. She's on a handy mark and has won four of her eight starts on the all-weather. Nice To Know needs to improve to win in this company but caught the eye on more than one occasion last year, notably when beating Plucky at Goodwood. There should be more to come from her this term and from Pendulum Star who has the scope to rate a good deal better than her current mark of 79. Fascinating stuff but we fully expect Cape Hawk to run a big race.
Councellor (FR) 20-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leaders approaching final furlong, stayed on well under pressure, 4th of 13, 1l behind King of Dixie (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-90 (3) pol.
Cape Hawk (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, staying on when not much room inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 3/4l behind Magical Music (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcap (2) pol in Sept.
Cross The Line (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened quickly final furlong, 12th of 14, 5l behind Capricorn Run (9-2) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Oct.
Bee Stinger 4-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Mar beating Moonlight Man (9-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Dichoh 11-2 (8-13) Dwelt, soon prominent, edged right over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Dudley Docker (8-9) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Master Pegasus 5-1 (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, effort over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 5l behind Denbera Dancer (8-5) at Southwell 1m hcap (4) fbs in Feb.
Danski 4-1 (9-6) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 12, 6l behind Councellor (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Dudley Docker (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Dwelt, pulled hard towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar beating Dichoh (8-13) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
McNairobi 4-1 (8-13) Started slowly, towards rear, headway 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, switched right, kept on, not trouble leaders, 8th of 12, 6l behind Markab (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Pendulum Star 15-8fav (9-1) Took keen hold, close up, ridden to challenge over 1f out, pressed winner and every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Waterline Twenty (8-8) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Rambling Light 9-2 (9-4) Mid-division, headway and edged sharply right over 1f out, chased leaders final furlong, no impression, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Electric Warrior (9-13) at Kempton 1m hcap (4) pol in Jul.
Mount Hermon (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Held up near side, ridden over 2f out, no headway, 9th of 18, 11l behind Bankable (8-11) at Ascot 1m 3yo hcp (4) gs in Sept.
Bold Marc (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Led far side group, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 16, 14l behind Exit Smiling (8-10) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gs.
Fiefdom (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Behind, ridden 3f out, soon outpaced, 11th of 13, 10l behind Atlantic Story (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Nice To Know (FR) 9-1 (8-9) Took keen hold, mid-division, ridden over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 1l behind Bussel (8-0) at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Northern Spy (USA) 7-1 (8-9) Took keen hold towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 25l behind Mia's Boy (8-7) at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Mar.
