soon led, headed 4f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
slowly away, always behind
keen hold in touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along halfway, weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, good headway on outside over 1f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, soon clear
chased leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
tracked leader, led 4f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly
behind, no impression final 2f
keen, settled in touch, effort and driven 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
always behind
close up, went 2nd well over 3f out, led over 2f out, pushed 2 lengths clear approaching final furlong, headed not not pace of winner inside final furlong
held up mid-division, good headway when not clear run over 1f out, soon switched right, ran on towards finish
Nonrunner
Tasneef can see off fellow banded stakes graduate Dubai Dreams and Our Destiny in a difficult puzzle for punters. Tasneef made full use of a plunge of almost 40lb in the ratings to score twice in banded stakes grade in December. Although he is not the easiest of rides, he has consented to race kindly for Dane O'Neill and all-weather championship chasing Neil Callan. The fact that Callan is prepared to stick with him against better opposition is a huge positive in our opinion and we are happy to make him our pick on this basis alone. Dubai Dreams has been a beacon of light for veteran Roy Bowring's training career. He has to give weight away on this occasion but he is in good heart at present and should not be discounted too readily. Our Destiny is something of a placepot banker at Wolverhampton having made frame-hitting something of an art form. He has largely been campaigned over a mile-and-a-half but was good enough to win an apprentice handicap off a 2lb higher mark here last year. George Prodromou managed to duck out of the cold trainers list following a recent success with King of Knight. Gran Dana is a well-bred type who has been granted some much-needed leniency by the handicapper. Geronimo is upped substantially in trip having competed over sprint trips and invariably staying on when the race has gone away from him. Mad is yet to truly convince over this trip. Tasneef may not be the most saintly of conveyances but he is at least willing and winning and we believe he can graduate back into the more regular racing on this occasion.
