tracked leaders, led over 2f out, stayed on well
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon faded
chased leaders, weakened over 3f out
led after 2f, headed over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, some late headway, never dangerous
always behind
mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, never a factor
held up, headway over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, no extra
led 2f, led again over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, never dangerous
behind, headway well over 1f out, kept on final furlong
Golden Spectrum gets the shout here ahead of Wanna Shout and, possibly, Spanish Music. The selection has put up fair efforts at Southwell and Wolverhampton in October and November, and was winning from a mark of 53 in July. For us, he seems to hold fair claims. Wanna Shout is a course and distance winner who is well-weighted on March 2004 form and has a chance if recapturing his best. Of the others, most seem fairly weighted, including Danettie, while Endless Peace holds claims on his Wolves form from February to April. Cross My Shadow has a chance on the best of his Turf form, while Spanish Music seemed to show improvement when stepped up to 10 furlongs from six last time, and she now drops back to a mile, and Zolash would hold claims on form of a year ago. However, we prefer more recent form and, consequently, will side with Golden Spectrum.
Danettie 12-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 11, 10l behind Kumakawa (8-7) at Southwell 1m Stks (41-45) (7) fbs in Nov.
Dexileos (IRE) 40-1 (9-12) Close up over 4f, 11th of 18, 16l behind Magic Amour (9-7) at Leicester 7f sll (6) gf in May.
Endless Peace (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, ridden well over 1f out, never dangerous, 9th of 12, 11l behind Colloseum (8-9) at W'hampton 7f stk (7) pol in Oct.
Golden Spectrum (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Filey Buoy (8-9) at Southwell 7f Stks (41-45) (7) fbs in Nov.
Prince Valentine 10-1 (8-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Revolve (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f app stk (7) pol in Nov.
Tirailleur (IRE) 9-2 (8-13) Held up, headway 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, won at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs in Nov beating Caerphilly Gal (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Wanna Shout 50-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 14l behind Rotuma (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (7) pol in Nov.
Cross My Shadow (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Joe Jo Star (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (7) pol.