chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up last, headway on inside 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace of leading pair and lost 3rd last stride
tracked leader, led going well just inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out headed and outpaced by winner entering final furlong, held when edged left soon after
took keen hold, tracked leaders, weakened well over 1f out
keen, held up in touch, good headway travelling well between horses over 1f out, led entering final furlong, edged left, quickened clear
held up, headway over 1f out, not clearest of runs and switched right well inside final furlong, kept on to 3rd last stride
led at steady pace, driven along 2f out, soon headed, no extra final furlong
These races are always competitive and BOHEMIAN MELODY is the tentative selection ahead of Hypnotized and Walcot Square. The selection won well over seven furlongs last month and with Marco Botti's stable in fair form, this qualifier looks an ideal starting point for a handicap campaign. Hypnotized dotted up in a maiden at the track in November. The pedigree gives plenty of hope over this extra furlong. Walcot Square has had the unkindest cut of all. His form is not great though anything gained as a juvenile was probably a bonus. Dark Ash was predictably outclassed in the Montrose Stakes at Newmarket last year and it will be interesting to see how the market reacts on seasonal reappearance. Admire The View is another to take a big drop in grade. She was last seen in the Solera Stakes before going absent for the rest of the term. Regrettably, her yard have made a quiet start to the campaign so we will watch rather than play. A race no less difficult by just the seven participants and for the winner, we return to Bohemian Melody.
Admire The View (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 10, 23l behind Long Lashes (8-12) at Newmarket 7f Group 3 fll stks (2yo) (1) gd in Aug.
Dark Eyes (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, not much room and edged right over 3f out, soon lost place, no impression, 7th of 13, 13l behind Timepiece (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2yo lst fll (1) gd in Oct.
Bohemian Melody 11-4 (9-3) Keen early, always prominent, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 7f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Mar beating Point Out (9-3) by 2l, 13 ran.
Lockantanks 11-1 (9-1) In rear, ridden 2f out, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 7, 6l behind Rjeef (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Hypnotized (USA) 2-1fav (9-3) Held up in mid-division on inner, smooth headway 2f out, soon challenging, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear and stayed on well, won at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn stks (4) pol in Nov beating Vaultage (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Walcot Square (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Led, hard ridden and headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Kona Coast (9-3) at Brighton 7f 2yo mdn (5) fm in Sep.
Novay Essjay (IRE) 9-2 (8-5) Led, headed final furlong, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 4l behind Niran (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
