took keen hold, held up, chased leaders 2f out, hung left over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong
steadied start, settled rear, headway on inside over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong to lead on line
prominent, chased leaders 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on, collared on line
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, no extra when headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
took keen hold behind, in touch 3f out, soon ridden and outpaced final 2f
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on to take 3rd inside final furlong, not trouble first 2
tracked leaders, not much room and outpaced over 1f out, stayed on again inside final furlong, not a danger
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no headway over 1f out, weakened
Nonrunner
Our three for the short list are Blacktoft, Berkamsted and Barry Island, with the selection being Blacktoft. Blacktoft has put in two solid efforts lately upped to today's trip and he looks a likely player today as it was a good effort from him last time despite the slow pace having been against him. Berkhamsted has improved for blinkers of late and could well get involved again in first-time cheekpieces. Alexian looked an improver - at last - last time, but a six-pounds rise works against him, Barry Island would hold a very good chance if recapturing his form of February of last year and Sonny Parkin holds claims based on his best Turf efforts, although all-weather ones have yet to match them. Port'n Starboard is back to his Kempton winning mark of April 2006, so can be considered on that basis but, for today, we will stick with Blacktoft.
Sonny Parkin 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always in rear, 11th of 12, 37l behind High Command (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Sept.
Blacktoft (USA) 2-1 (9-3) Dwelt, headway 7f out, chased winner over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, readily held final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Pagano (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Berkhamsted (IRE) 10-3 (9-1) Prominent, led after 1f, headed over 6f out, led again 4f out, headed 2f out and soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Happy as Larry (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (5) pol in Dec.
Wheelavit (IRE) 66-1 (8-2) Dwelt, always behind, last of 12, 13l behind Happy as Larry (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Jack Rolfe 5-2fav (9-0) Held up, headway under strong pressure over 2f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Jan '06 beating Webbswood Lad (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Barry Island 3-1 (9-8) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, headway on inside, not reached leaders, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Blackmail (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Dec.
Port 'n Starboard 10-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, kept on to take 4th inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 13, 6l behind Rapid City (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Alexian 3-1 (9-3) Held up in last pair, progress 5f out, effort to lead just over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Kempton 1m 4f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Dec beating Monets Masterpiece (9-3) by 2l, 6 ran.
