chased leaders 4f
pressed leader, led 3f out to just inside final furlong, weakened quickly
held up and behind, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
held up, some late headway, no danger
held up, rapid headway on outside 3f out, every chance 1f out, not quicken final furlong
uneasy in stalls, dwelt, held up in rear, plenty to do 2f out, headway wide outside over 1f out, ran on strongly to lead towards finish
raced freely, led to 3f out, losing place when hampered over 2f out, weakened rapidly over 1f out
slightly hampered start, held up and behind, headway and switched right over 1f out, ran on final furlong
held up in rear, headway and not clear run over 1f out, led on bit just inside final furlong, not quicken under pressure, headed towards finish
slow into stride, behind, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, no danger
went left start, prominent, ridden over 1f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, effort going easily 2f out, every chance 1f out, soon ridden and beaten
pressed leaders until weakened over 1f out
bumped start, ridden and headway halfway, ran on, same pace final furlong
Esenin cost a lot of money but has failed to progress from a promising start. This is, however, his all-weather debut and he could show improvement for that - there is dirt success in his bloodlines - but, overall, is opposable. Master Rattle is still 4lbs higher than for his c/d win in February, and has been beaten three times since then from revised marks. A winner once from 25 starts, Fact O' The Matter is now rated two pounds lower than for that Wolverhampton win in November. He is fully entitled to run well from his current mark. Abuelos has largely struggled since winning over this course and distance last May (from a mark of 60) son, off a rating of 58, his chance is not completely forlorn. He met trouble in running on his last outing, which can be disregarded, but he needs to be held up and this big field is far from ideal for him. Didn't Tell My Wife won over course and distance from a mark of 62 (now rated 58) in December 2001, but has shown little since. Larky's Lob has been second or third in each of his last six races but hasn't got his nose in front since winning two sellers on his first two visits to the racetrack. Tuscarora's two course wins have come here in claimers but bits of form make her competitive in a competitive event, while Doctor Dennis is another course winner. That success came nearly two years ago, though, from a 12lb lower mark than in this race. It's difficult to enthuse about his chance although Richard Quinn is an interesting booking. Pancakehill, despite her dam being a half-sister to Sheikh Albadou, has been campaigned mainly at a mile and further. However, she's been running well from around this mark (when taking into consideration her decent rider's allowance) so cannot be discounted. Lucid Dreams is 6lbs higher than for his Wolverhampton win (in first-time blinkers) and has been beaten - albeit narrowly - from his revised mark. However, last season he won from a mark as high as 61 so cannot be discounted on that basis. The lightly-raced Gold Bond is just a pound higher than for her Goodwood win last June. She's entitled to be competitive if fully wound-up. Cressex Katie is also entitled to some sort of chance on the best of her form, while Lucid Dreams is weighted to reverse form with Mutabari on their Wolverhampton runs last month and has the better draw. Jahangir is also closely-matched with Lucid Dreams on March form but might be able to confirm that effort. Feast Of Romance has winning form from higher marks, but at Wolverhampton, although his second to Al Muallim over this course and distance four days ago entitles him to some consideration. Damask Dancer has had just the three runs and is a little hard to assess. A tricky event in which Lucid Dreams might just be the answer.
