held up in rear, headway over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, never nearer
in touch, ridden to chase leading pair over 2f out, driven to join winner 1f out, held well inside final furlong
led to 6f out, stayed close up, ridden 4f out, weakened rapidly over 2f out
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, nearest finish
held up in rear, steady headway from 2f out, staying on when not clear run inside final furlong, kept on
raced wide, held up in rear, driven on outer 3f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, effort and hard ridden 2f out, one pace over 1f out
close up, went 2nd 6f out, led over 1f out, joined 1f out, driven and ran on well inside final furlong
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leader, led 6f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
behind, driven 3f out, never nearer
raced on inside in mid-division, driven to challenge on inner over 1f out, one pace, no impression inside final furlong
raced wide in mid-division, under pressure and weakened over 2f out
This is an interesting race but a reall headscratcher for all that, with the vote going to Compton Drake in a race where many can be given chances. Where to begin? Tight Squeeze loves this course and distance and is just four pounds above a winning mark. Kew Green has been lightly raced in the last two years but the form of his Wolverhampton win 46 days ago has worked out. Compton Drake is back up in trip now following a decent run in a first-time tongue tie last time, a race from which he narrowly holds Mad Carew today. Much as Weecandoo is generally consistent on the all-weather, we prefer others, while Khanjar, much as he has yet to fully prove he stays this far, is lightly-raced, and this $1.2 million dollar yearling purchase has chances of improving at it. Cordial is a lightly-raced potential improver, and it has to be borne in mind that Nevada Desert has won from today's mark on Turf. Alfridini's form was a bit in-and-out after he won a course and distance maiden last season but he is entitled to improve this time around, although of more concern is his lack of a run since July. Finally, Malibu is closely weighted with Khanjar based on December, Wolverhampton extended-mile form and has won off a higher mark on the Flat, while Anuvasteel could yet be well weighted if taking to this trip this season, and Silver Palace could also be well handicapped as he was thought to be in need of the run when winning a course and distance maiden on his debut, his sole run to date. In attempting to identify the Keyser Soze from a bunch of, well, fairly usual suspects in this race, we will side with Compton Drake.
