Henry Cecil's Zerzuza disappointed on his belated debut here last month when sent off the 11/8 favourite and he is hard to recommend following that effort with a better bet looking to be CHANROSSA, who gets the vote over Cross Section. Ed Vaughan's filly has not progressed from a promising start to her career but has run some reasonable races in defeat and she would have claims if able to show the same level of form when narrowly beaten by Heathyards Junior at Wolverhampton last month. Jamie Osborne's National Monument has the same rating as Cross Section but he seems to be going downhill rapidly. Gary Moore's Kiss 'n Tell was well held first time out at Sandown in August and she would need to improve dramatically on that effort to trouble the selection, Chanrossa. Ed Dunlop's filly has had plenty of chances and is becoming expensive to follow but she has been going well in handicaps of late and a reproduction of recent form may well be good enough in a contest that should not take much winning.
Gospel Spirit 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 9th of 11, well behind Stormy Summer (9-0) at Southwell 1m 4f mdn stks (5) fbs.
National Monument (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, switched right and headway over 1f out, kept on well, never nearer, 6th of 11, 3l behind Shake On It (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Zerzura 11-8fav (9-3) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, one pace final 2f, 5th of 9, 14l behind Shakalaka (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) in Dec.
Chanrossa (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Shakalaka (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) in Dec.
Cross Section (USA) 5-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, stayed on under pressure from over 1f out to go 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Ambrogina (8-8) at Southwell 6f mdn fll (5) fbs.
Kiss 'n Tell 33-1 (8-12) Always in rear, last of 9, 32l behind Mezenah (8-12) at Sandown 1m fll mdn stks (5) gd in Aug.
Onegin (SAF) 66-1 (9-0) Handy - faded, last of 12, 20l behind Middleton Hill (9-0) at Turffontein(SAF) 5f 2yo mdn gd in May.
