raced centre, in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace
steadied start, held up in centre until switched left halfway, hampered over 2f out, hard ridden to lead over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, eased close home
raced stands side, keen in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on to go 2nd under strong pressure inside final furlong
led under stand side rail, clear halfway, ridden, headed and wandered over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
taken to post early, awkward from stalls and went right start, headway to chase leader after 2f, ridden and hung right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Common Diva, Burning Flute and Campbeltown Trader make most appeal here and the vote is given to Common Diva. The selection was a little disappointing last time at Haydock but she had won well previously at Pontefract and the ground may have been an excuse for her most recent below-par effort. She likes it quick so any rain would work against her, but with the weather set fair she looks the one to beat. Burning Flute was well beaten in the Windsor Castle Stakes last time out, so there is no doubt that he has less on his plate here. He had previously shown some fair form so he has to be respected. Campbeltown Trader has gone close on each of his last two runs and Tom Dascombe's colt is another that would not need to find a great deal of improvement to get in the shake-up. Red Cell is from a yard that merits respect in these type of events, but he was well beaten beaten in a handicap last time. John Spearing won this race last year so his representative Samba Queen is another worth a mention. However, for the winner we will stick with Common Diva.
Common Diva 13-2 (9-0) Close up, ridden well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 9l behind Isabella Grey (8-10) at Haydock 6f nov fll stk (4) gd.
Burning Flute 66-1 (9-3) Held up, ridden when not much room over 2f out, soon weakened, 19th of 25, 15l behind Flashmans Papers (9-3) at Ascot 5f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Amber Sunset 12-1 (8-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind The Magic of Rio (8-12) at Nottingham 5f 2yo mdn fll aut (5) gf.
Red Cell (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, weakened over 2f out, last of 9, 34l behind Rosabee (8-1) at Pontefract 6f 2yo hcp (4) gd.
Samba Queen (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Pulled hard, hung right throughout, always in rear, 8th of 10, 17l behind Swift Chap (8-12) at Warwick 7f 2yo mdn auc (4) gf.
Campbeltown Trader (IRE) 5-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, soon pushed along, effort over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Rafiqa (8-8) at Nottingham 6f 2yo mdn auc (5) gs.
