mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra
with leader, led 5f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well
led, headed 5f out, chased winner, ridden over 1f out, kept on and held towards finish
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong
Plenty with claims in a competitive opener. Touch Me won maiden over 7f here last month and Sky Ballerina scored over the same distance at Wolverhampton. Tisbutadream won a lower grade handicap over track and trip and is upped 7lb while Washington Blue was ahead of both Pobbles and AFRICAN BEAT when winning at Kempton. But the latter was not beaten far despite meeting trouble in-running in the home straight and John Gosden’s filly is fancied to turn the tables on today’s revised terms.
African Beat (IRE) 11-8fav (9-7) Held up in mid-division, travelling well on inside when not clear run 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, went 4th inside final furlong, edged left and never going pace to threaten, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Washington Blue (9-1) at Kempton 1m (5) pol in Dec.
Chica De La Noche 9-2 (9-3) In touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Reign On (9-3) at Lingfield 7f (4) pol in Dec.
Tisbutadream (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Raced wide tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon hung right, headway to lead approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Ourmullion (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sky Ballerina 8-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Seaview (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Washington Blue 11-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, challenged in 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, driven and all out in closing stages, won at Kempton 1m (5) pol in Dec beating Quothquan (9-3) by hd, 14 ran.
Pobbles 9-2 (9-5) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, went 2nd and ran on inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Revel (9-7) at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Touch Me (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Close up, headway to chase leader 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (6) pol in Dec beating Peachey Carnehan (9-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Do You Know (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Led, headed over 7f out, tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Auberge Du Lac (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan.