led and soon clear with winner, ridden and edged right over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
clear with leader, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
slow into stride towards rear, took keen hold 4f out, never a factor
raced wide in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and ran wide into straight
pulled hard in touch, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, not reach leaders
chased leaders, ridden when not handle bend into straight 2f out, soon weakened
This wouldn’t be the toughest Listed sprint ever staged. Caspian Prince and Gifted Master both like to be up with the pace but 6f is too far for the former and both have wide draws to overcome. Spring Loaded landed the Portland at Doncaster in September and has won eight times on the all-weather so has to go on the short-list. Last year’s runner-up Mythmaker has every chance of going one better as he likes it here and the consistent Mazzini could make the frame again stepping out of handicaps. Clem Fandango has been knocking on the door on Turf and is another to consider if taking to the surface but the race may be run to suit ROYAL BIRTH, who has had a nice break and Jim Crowley taking over the reins for the first time. He won a similar contest over 5f here in February and is probably just as effective over further.
Caspian Prince (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Raced near side, chased winner until 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 17, 6 1/2l behind Take Cover (9-1) at Newbury 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Gifted Master (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Led centre group and soon clear, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened and eased final furlong, 8th of 11, 17 1/2l behind Limato (9-3) at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Intisaab 14-1 (9-3) Held up tracking leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, plugged on in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 3l behind Sir Dancealot (8-12) at Doncaster 7f stks (3) gs in Oct.
Making Trouble (GER) 6-4 (9-0) 2nd of 6, 1l behind Mc Queen (9-2) at Hannover 6f stks sft in Oct.
Mazzini 6-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Steady Pace (9-5) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (2) pol in Sep.
Mythmaker 14-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Gifted Master (9-1) at Newmarket 6f lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Out Do 11-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, running on when not clear run towards finish, held after, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind Solomon's Bay (9-8) at Kempton 6f stks (3) pol in Oct.
Royal Birth 25-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 6th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Masham Star (9-3) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (2) pol in Sep.
Spring Loaded (IRE) 7-2fav (9-5) Chased leaders early, pushed along lost place halfway and towards rear, rallied on far rail and kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 10th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Tomily (8-8) at Doncaster 5f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Clem Fandango (FR) 9-2 (9-5) Close up, headway over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Perfect Pasture (9-6) at Nottingham 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Magical Memory (IRE) 9-1 (9-5) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Blue Point (9-4) at Ascot 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Gracious John (IRE) 6-1 (9-4) Prominent, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Perfect Pasture (9-6) at Nottingham 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.