held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, caught post
dwelt, tracked leader after 1f until over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, switched wide 6f out, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and no impression over 2f out, driven and stayed on towards finish
set steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on to lead post
in rear, ridden and outpaced 2f out, ran on to go 4th near finish
held up in rear, effort over 1f out, kept on one pace
This is tricky despite the small field so preference for PARHELION is marginal, with Iptkaar, Thundering Home and Dosti all rated real threats. Frankie Dettori takes the ride aboard this Fantastic Light colt, who showed marked improvement to score on his second outing last time. That evidently came as no surprise to many as he was well backed to score, doing so decisively in the end despite showing signs of immaturity when drifting right in the closing stages. Around here such behaviour won't be a problem and he's a big sort who should keep improving, which may result in this mark of 70 seeming very generous. For that reason he's selected ahead of Iptkaar who might just have been flattered by her second last time when allowed a soft lead. With that unlikely here despite there being just seven runners, she's taken on. Dosti should have plenty more to come and must be considered having landed his maiden here. On a line through Brave Talk he's got plenty on his plate with our pick but it must be said that horse was below par when behind Parhelion and a big run from Dosti appears likely, with this extra furlong in his favour. Thundering Home is the most exposed of our shortlist and he's harshly been bumped up a pound in defeat of late, so Ed Dunlop's strapping gelding can be opposed on this occasion. Beat Route is quite hard to assess but looks up against it off this mark, as does Captain Cool who looks best served by a slightly shorter trip whilst Stadium Of Light needs to find improvement from somewhere if he's to score. This is a fascinating contest but the feeling is Parhelion could prove a fair bit better than this mark, so he has to rate the selection.
Thundering Home 5-2 (9-7) Held up in touch in last trio, shaken up to go definate 3rd 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Keenes Royale (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Iptkaar (USA) 7-1 (8-2) Led, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Beneath (8-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol.
Parhelion 2-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged badly right inside final furlong, kept on on and edged left towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (6) pol beating Port Hill (8-5) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Dosti 9-1 (8-5) Held up, mid-division, headway 3f out, challenged over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, stayed on, won at Kempton 1m 3f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Feb beating Brave Talk (8-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Beat Route 16-1 (8-12) In touch in rear, ridden over 2f out no impression, 4th of 5, 7l behind Gomrath (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (4) pol.
Stadium Of Light (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind My Nan Nell (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn auc stks (5) pol.
Captain Cool (IRE) 9-2 (8-0) Mid-divion, headway on inside over 2f out to track leaders, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, led inside final furlong edged right and headed final strides, 2nd of 12, nk behind Usquaebach (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
