raced wide, mid-division, improved over 4f out, ridden and every chance from 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
steady start, held up in rear, headway from 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
dwelt, held up in rear, ridden and kept on approaching final furlong, never nearer
held up mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
led, headed 7f out, remained prominent, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
keen, tracked leader, led 7f out, ridden and headed over 4f out, soon weakened
close up, led over 4f out, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
Young Mick gets the confident vote here with Country Pursuit and I Have Dreamed rating the main dangers. The selection has been in the form of his life of late and won well on turf last time out when beating Caribbean Pear. This will be harder under his penalty but he still looks ahead of the handicapper and under conditions that suit he is hard to oppose. Country Pursuit rates the main danger on his latest second behind Cold Turkey. He is sure to strip fitter here and should be noted in the market. I Have Dreamed is another worthy of respect as he won his only start to date in good style and with his yard in form he could go well but he may struggle against these battle hardened rivals. Of the remainder Prime Contender won his last two races in style last season but he may just need the run after a 153 day absence and has yet to win over this trip and with this in mind for the winner we return to the progressive Young Mick.
Flotta 16-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, chased leading pair from 2f out, no impression and lost 3rd well inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 4l behind Whirly Bird (9-2) at Newbury 1m 3f hcp (4) gf in Sept.
Young Mick 2-1fav (8-8) Pulled hard, held up, smooth headway 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Mar beating Caribbean Pearl (8-8) by 5l, 7 ran.
Modaffaa 4-1fav (9-9) Mid-division, headway and hampered over 3f out, hung left and weakened final furlong, 4th of 11, 13l behind Wise Owl (9-3) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
I Have Dreamed (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4f out, chasing front two when rider dropped reins over 1f out, led final 100 yards, won at Folkestone 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd in Aug beating Celtique (8-9) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Country Pursuit (USA) 11-2 (8-5) Led at steady pace, quickened over 2f out, joined over 1f out, battled well under pressure, headed last strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Cold Turkey (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Mar.
Spinning Coin 33-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon driven and hung left, headed over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Diamond Circle (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 6f 3yo hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Eye Candy (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, every chance 3f out, hampered and weakened over 2f out, 8th of 11, 36l behind Wise Owl (9-3) at W'hampton 2m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Prime Contender 9-2fav (9-2) Made all, ridden and hung right inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Oct beating Lunar Promise (9-2) by a hd, 13 ran.
