very slowly away, in rear, headway on outer to chase winner 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
tracked leader 4f, remained prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened and eased approaching final furlong
raced wide, mid-division, headway to go prominent after 6f, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
keen, held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, driven and chased winner towards finish
mid-division, good headway on outer to lead 2f out, soon clear, ridden out
led, ridden 3f out, headed 2f out, weakened and eased approaching final furlong
keen, tracked leaders, tracked leader after 4f, ridden and weakened over 3f out
BENOZZO GOZZOLI is our call in this contest with Weybridge Light and Ned Ludd others to catch the eye. Hughie Morrison's gelding took a Nottingham contest in style off a mark of 46 and while the handicapper has reacted by giving him a 6lb penalty, it could so easily have been more. The booking of Jamie Spencer aboard Weybridge Light is interesting given that Eoin Griffin has sent a number of winning raiders across the Irish Sea of late. Ned Ludd is a useful hurdler on his day and whilst his recent efforts on turf have given little encouragement for backers, the assessor is finally loosening his grip. L'Homme du Nuit has been turned into a useful dual purpose performer by George Baker and makes appeal despite having to shoulder top weight. Calculating failed to take advantage of a lower turf mark at Haydock but the winner of that event scored readily on Monday afternoon. John Best has saddled a number of winners of late so the market is inspected in regard to Yaldas Girl. She takes a massive hike up in trip and at a purchase price of 200000 US dollars, she has plenty to do to justify a place at the breeding paddocks. Benozzo Gozzoli appears impossible to get away from and we seek not to.
L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 15-2 (9-2) Settled in rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to take 3rd final stride, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Master At Arms (9-6) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Weybridge Light 10-1 (8-12) Prominent, 4th before halfway, lost place from under 6f out, no extra from 4f out, 14th of 16, well behind Mutadarek (9-7) at Ballinrobe 1m 6f hcp 55-85 in Sep.
Calculating (IRE) 7-2fav (8-2) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead briefly 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Leyte Gulf (8-4) at Haydock 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Little Carmela 14-1 (8-10) Held up mid-division, outpaced over 5f out, headway over 2f out, never nearer, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Bell Island (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Whaxaar (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Miss Serena (9-2) at Great Leighs 2m hcp (6) pol in Oct '08.
Dubai Diva 7-2fav (9-3) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 17l behind Park's Prodigy (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) sft in Oct.
Benozzo Gozzoli 16-1 (8-0) Led after 2f, clear over 1f out, unchallenged, won at Nottingham 2m hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Oct beating Night Orbit (9-13) by 9l, 13 ran.
Yaldas Girl (USA) 18-1 (8-9) Pulled hard, soon tracking leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden and weakened 1f out, 6th of 12, 8l behind Mondego (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct.
Ned Ludd (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, challenging and every chance from 3f out until weakened over 1f out, 7th of 14, 15l behind Kokkokila (11-0) at Goodwood 2m hcp (5) gs in Oct.
