towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, one pace and no impression
towards rear, headway on outer over 3f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous
led early, chased leaders, ridden inside final furlong, one pace
always towards rear
close up, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, always held
soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
prominent, not much room over 2f out, led 1f out, kept on strongly
chased leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
Jolly Ranch won twice over the minimum trip at Bath last year but she hasn't raced since September so ROYAL BAJAN makes more appeal. He has a penalty for last week's victory over C&D but such was his superiority that James Given's sprinter is taken to go in again and confirm running with the luckless Even Bolder, Welsh Inlet and Sherjawy in the process. Novabridge has done all his winning on turf so far but is still preferred to C&D winner Jimmy Ryan and Liberal Lady, a recent runner-up over 6f.
Royal Bajan (USA) 5-2fav (9-6) Made all, hard driven over 1f out, ran on well, unchallenged, won at Lingfield 5f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec beating Even Bolder (9-7) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Even Bolder 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway on inside over 1f out, soon chasing winner, kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Royal Bajan (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Jolly Ranch 7-1 (9-4) Raced wide, chased leaders, pushed along halfway, chased leader inside final 2f, led inside final furlong, pushed clear, readily, won at Bath 5f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Sep beating My Meteor (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Welsh Inlet (IRE) 17-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, driven and effort over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Royal Bajan (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Novabridge 12-1 (9-2) Soon led from wide draw, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 4l behind Towy Boy (8-9) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Sherjawy (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Chased leader, under pressure halfway, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 6l behind Royal Bajan (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Dec.
Miss Polly Plum 22-1 (8-11) Taken to post early, led centre group and overall leader, ridden and headed when groups merged over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 18l behind Darcey (8-10) at Yarmouth 6f flls hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sep.
Jimmy Ryan (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Raced wide towards rear, never on terms, 10th of 11, 7l behind Estonia (9-7) at Kempton 5f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Nov.
Liberal Lady 25-1 (9-4) Led, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, caught last strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind Force To Spend (8-7) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.