tracked leaders and keen, driven 3f out, weakened 2f out
soon led, ridden over 1f out, hung left and headed inside final furlong, ran on
held up, headway approaching 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, ridden out
tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden over 2f out and headway, ran on well
held up, headway to track leaders halfway, ridden over 3f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra
A decent enough handicap to round off proceedings and the vote goes to Sagredo ahead of Dee Cee Elle and Audit. Sir Mark Prescott's gelding enters handicaps off a testing mark of 85 but his two-year-old form looks rock solid and with further improvement to come, he looks worth siding with today. Dee Cee Elle looks likely to pester the selection for an early lead, but the way Sagredo was running last year, the step up in trip looks sure to suit. Dee Cee Elle has won three of his last six starts and this trip is his optimum. Dan Tucker didn't act in first-time blinkers last time out and those are scrapped. He doesn't look entirely straight-forward and can be swerved again, whilst likely-favourite Audit is an interesting contender. Sir Michael Stoute's gelding has responded well to the application of blinkers but this mark of 80 looks beyond him at present. Happy Go Lilly may not have liked the soft ground when last seen and mustn't be underestimated today back on the all-weather as his trainer rates him very highly, whilst Jaady completes the field. He steps up in trip but this is not sure to suit and we will pass him over, and return to Sagredo as the nomination.
Sagredo (USA) 6-5fav (9-5) Led after 1f, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Tredegar (9-5) at W'hampton 7f nov stk (5) pol in Nov.
Happy Go Lily 8-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders, kept on, 5th of 9, 7l behind Sahrati (8-10) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp (3) gs in May.
Audit (IRE) 15-8fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Southwell 1m 3f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) fbs in May beating Artless (9-7) by 1l, 13 ran.
Jaady (USA) 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Mutual Friend (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in May.
Dan Tucker 11-2 (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, chase leaders inside last, always held, 3rd of 13, 4l behind Mutual Friend (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in May.
Dee Cee Elle 2-1jt-fav (9-1) In touch, led over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gd in May beating Sonara (9-0) by 2l, 6 ran.
