tracked front pair, disputed 2nd 7f out, ridden and lost place over 2f out, weakened 1f out
held up in rear, headway under pressure on outside over 2f out, soon ridden and hung right, stayed on to dispute 2nd well inside final furlong, no impression
held up in 4th, headway on inside over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out final furlong, kept on
led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner inside final furlong, lost place towards finish
tracked leader, took keen hold when pressed for 2nd 7f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression with winner
SANDRO BOTTICELLI is penalised 3lb for winning the Listed Esher Stakes at Sandown last year but still has strong claims on these terms. He’ll be sharper for last month’s outing at Wolverhampton and is preferred to First Mohican, a runner-up at Newcastle in December. Successful over hurdles, Winterlude finished ahead of Vettori Rules when second over a shorter trip at Wolverhampton but Intense Tango has been struggling both on the Flat and over timber lately.
Sandro Botticelli (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 7 1/4l behind Antiquarium (9-3) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f stks (2) pol in Jan.
First Mohican 10-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Winning Story (8-9) at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Dec.
Winterlude (IRE) 6-1 (9-7) Led early, tracked leaders, not clear run over 1f out, led again inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Pactolus (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Intense Tango 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced and pushed along before 3 out, held in 4th and staying on one pace when blundered last, 4th of 5, 19 1/4l behind Vroum Vroum Mag (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) gd in Jan.
Vettori Rules 16-1 (9-6) Last to break, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, some headway on inside over 1f out, never involved, 5th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Pactolus (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Feb.