tracked winner, effort 2f out, stayed on same pace
slowly into stride, behind, raced green throughout, pushed along halfway, never dangerous
chased leaders, hard ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, weakened 2f out
made all, driven and challenged 2f out, soon hard ridden, kept on under pressure
chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon outpaced, stayed on well towards finish
slowly into stride, held up, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
After showing typical improvement from first run to second Mark Johnston's LOVERS CAUSEWAY can score in the one mile two furlong maiden getting the better of Septemberintherain and Banks And Braes. After leaving behind an educational run on debut the pick just missed out in a small field contest last time. He showed a good attitude that day and with this yard past masters at getting progress from their charges we can expect more again. Septemberintherain also stepped up on his debut effort to run well in defeat on his latest appearance. He stayed on well that day so this extra yardage should suit just fine. Banks And Braes is a useful benchmark rated at 73 and although he is respected from a top yard he is beginning to look exposed in this company. Brave Enough also seemed to be heading in the right direction in two starts last season so is another to consider but Lovers causeway seems to have the most scope and is the chosen one here.
Banks And Braes 5-1 (9-6) Close up, hard ridden 2f out, soon lost place, 7th of 13, 8l behind Christopher Wren (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct.
Beat Route Beat Hollow colt out of Steppin Out.
Brave Enough (USA) 33-1 (9-3) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 12, 3l behind Capricornus (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Colonel Henry 50-1 (9-3) Slowly away, always behind, 8th of 9, 15l behind Gracious Melange (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Lovers Causeway (USA) 15-8fav (8-12) Led, ridden and soon edged right 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, driven and rallied towards finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Dubai Bounty (8-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo nov stks (5) pol in Dec.
Septemberintherain 33-1 (9-3) Slowly away, raced in mid-division after 1f, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on to go 4th entering final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Con Artist (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Yorksters Prince (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Close up, pushed along from over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, last of 4, 7l behind Dubai Bounty (8-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo nov stks (5) pol in Dec.
Hovering Hawk (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Behind, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, eased final furlong, last of 12, 29l behind Prince Of Sorrento (9-3) at Kempton 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Dec.
Mushagak (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up, pushed along from halfway, never dangerous, last of 11, 9l behind Fairy Flight (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Dec.
Sansili 66-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance when short of room 2f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 12, 9l behind Rumoush (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Steely Bird 80-1 (9-3) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, soon struggling, 10th of 12, 28l behind Database (9-0) at Bath 1m 2yo mdn (5) gd in Oct.