held up in touch, weakened over 3f out, tailed off
slowly into stride, held up in rear, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on strongly to go 2nd inside final furlong, never reached winner
led until over 4f out, weakened quickly tailed off
settled towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, never on terms
tracked leaders, under preessure over 3f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on same pace
chased leaders, led over 4f out, hard ridden when strongly challenged well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
Martine's Spirit has shown steady improvement over shorter trips and should show further progress stepping up in distance, but the same comment applies to BALANDRA. She found plenty of trouble over 1m2f at Kempton last month but she's a half-sister to former stablemates and smart middle-distance performers Bauer and Boz and gets the vote to open her account putting her stamina to the test for the first time. Agadir Summer is another to consider as she was noted staying on strongly for third over today's distance at Wolverhampton last time, but Ecossaise will need to step up on her recent form in handicaps if she's to figure.
Sioux City Sue 33-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 8th of 9, 27l behind Winning Spark (9-10) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Agadir Summer 16-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, went 3rd well inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Tonnerre (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Sep.
Astragal 10-1 (8-12) Led, headed halfway, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 7, 34l behind Vasily (9-3) at Brighton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) gf in Oct.
Balandra 12-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon pushed along towards rear, rapid headway on outside halfway, awkward on bend and lost place 4f out, 9th of 10, 12l behind Proud Chieftain (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Ecossaise 9-4fav (9-4) Chased leader, ridden and hung left over 1f out, weakened soon after, 8th of 9, 8l behind Convention (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f fll hcp (0-75) (3yo+) (5) pol in Oct.
Martine's Spirit (IRE) 11-4 (8-12) Led, headed 8f out, tracked winner, ridden over 3f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Ajeeb (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct.
Sky Crystal (GER) 16-1 (8-12) Slowly away, green in rear, plugged on from over 1f out, pressed for poor 5th close home, 6th of 10, 17l behind Always The Lady (8-12) at Bath 1m 2f fll mdn stks (5) gs in Sep.
