pulled hard, led after 1f, set steady pace, ridden and effort over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on
pulled hard, soon in touch, ridden and hung right over 2f out, soon eased
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
soon in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, pushed along 4f out, ridden and weakened 2f out
led 1f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
RIGIDITY holds an entry in the Dante and will need to win this if he's to justify it; we'll select him to do so, with King's Parade and Alrasm put forward as dangers in what could prove to be a strong race. Henry Cecil tends to send some smart performers to Leicester and this Indian Ridge colt could be another to add to the list. He went down only narrowly on debut before obliging at the second time of asking, shaping like a potentially smart horse, so the handicapper may have taken a chance in rating him 77. This softer ground isn't expected to be a problem as he's related to horses who've won in the mud, whilst the step up in trip should only help now he's had a winter to grow. King's Parade is another handicap debutant and could be the one to threaten our selection. Sir Michael Stoute will surely be pleased with this mark of 73 and it's good to see Louis-phillipe Beuzelin back in the saddle with his 3lb claim helping a horse whose best effort came here at Leicester under similar conditions. The market will tell us more about his chances with stable form impossible to assess at this early stage; he'll be only their third runner of the turf season. Alrasm has no easy task conceding weight all round but deserves his rating of 90 after a fine juvenile season. It's interesting he was sent to Royal Ascot on his third start, suggesting he's well thought of, and the gelding ran reasonably behind Canford Cliffs. He's bred to appreciate this sort of trip and his trainer is a shrewd placer of horses, so this horse is respected. Paintball narrowly held Miss Starlight at Doncaster last week but will do well to confirm that form under a penalty, but neither should be good enough to beat the unexposed handicap debutants that we prefer, whilst Jibrrya will need to improve on his debut win but could do so now racing on softer ground. As ever with early-season three-year-old handicaps the market will prove a helpful guide but without it we like the profile of Rigidity and the Cecil-trained horse gets our vote.
Alrasm (IRE) 18-1 (9-3) In touch, stayed on final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 19, 1l behind Antoniola (8-6) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Jibrrya 12-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Thirsk 1m 2yo mdn (4) gd in Aug beating Manhattan Fox (9-3) by nk, 10 ran.
Miss Starlight 33-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, effort to lead over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, driven and headed post, 2nd of 6, shd behind Paintball (8-6) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Mar.
Tut (IRE) 16-1 (8-5) Slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, weakening when not much room over 1f out, 8th of 9, 16l behind Centigrade (8-12) at Ayr 1m 2yo hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Paintball (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, ridden to join leader inside final furlong, driven to lead post, won at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Mar beating Miss Starlight (8-13) by shd, 6 ran.
King's Parade 8-1 (9-3) In touch, driven along over 1f out, one pace and no impression, 5th of 12, 5l behind Start Right (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Dr Finley (IRE) 15-8fav (9-3) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4l behind My Nan Nell (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Mar.
Rigidity 8-13fav (9-3) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden, edged right 1f out, stayed on well, in command final 100 yards, won at Yarmouth 1m 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sep beating Bab Al Shams (9-3) by 2l, 6 ran.
