tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
chased leaders, lost place over 2f out
steadied start, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
held up, never dangerous
led until over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on well
held up in touch, hard ridden to challenge over 1f out, never on terms
slowly into stride, always behind
mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
With the encouragement of market support it could be worth siding with BRIDGE OF GOLD in this valuable handicap but if it fails to materialise then Rock Ascot or European Dream could be interesting alternatives. All three of the aforementioned come with risks attached as European Dream has yet to race on an artificial surface but his yard is in fine form and he's attractively treated. Rock Ascot has been more miss than hit since arriving on these shores from Uruguay but he showed what he was capable of at this venue on his penultimate start. Something went badly amiss at Kempton on his sole start since but the potential is there if his connections can nurse him back to form. The same is true of the selection who was pitched in to Listed company on his second outing. He didn't run too badly that day but was very disappointing the following month and has been absent since. The handicapper hasn't taken many chances with his mark but Bridge Of Gold's trainer isn't one to overface his horses and his son of Giant's Causeway is taken to get his career back on track.
Bridge Of Gold (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up rear, some headway over 2f out, kept on to take modest 4th final furlong, never in contention, 4th of 8, 13l behind Cloudy Start (9-3) at Kempton 1m cnd stks (3yo) (3) pol in Jun.
Rock Ascot (URU) 10-1 (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakened over 2f out, soon eased, 6th of 7, well behind Bab Al Salam (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
John Terry (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Soon led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened 1f out, 8th of 13, 10l behind Red Merlin (8-13) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in May.
Baylini 20-1 (8-12) With leader until tracked leaders 8f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 9, 6l behind Bound By Honour (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
European Dream (IRE) 18-1 (8-10) In rear, ridden 3f out, no impression, 6th of 7, 10l behind Alexandros (8-10) at Nottingham 1m cond Stakes (2) sft in Nov.
Luberon 5-1 (9-2) Led until over 2f out, weakening when hampered over 1f out, last of 7, 14l behind Mister New York (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Full Toss 12-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, never able to challenge, 4th of 7, 3l behind Mister New York (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Mafeking (UAE) 9-2fav (9-5) Led, clear 5f out, ridden over 1f out, worn down last stride, 2nd of 11, shd behind Confidentiality (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Vainglory (USA) 11-1 (8-5) Mid-division on inside, ridden and outpaced well over 2f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, never near leaders, 5th of 13, 10l behind Sovereign Remedy (8-12) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-100 (2) fbs in Oct.
Bureaucrat 12-1 (9-10) Always mid-division, 8th of 12, 11l behind Oasis Knight (8-7) at Newbury 1m 5f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Aug.
Puzzlemaster 8-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Luc Jordan (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
