chased winner, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace and lost 2 places inside final furlong
chased winner until over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened 1f out
raced wide held up, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
short of room soon after start and dropped to rear, ridden 3f out, no impression, final 2f
held up in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd well inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
took keen hold early, held up in rear, plenty to do 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong to go 3rd near finish, promising
keen early, held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, no impression
made most from wide draw, ridden clear over 1f out, eased near finish, comfortably
Kevin Ryan and David Barron are both enjoying purple patches, which augurs well for the chances of Arganil and our preference, JACONET. It would be no surprise to see this Listed contest being fought out between the pair of them, and even though he is 1lb worse off than if this were a handicap we will side with the Barron-trained runner. Having won a Ripon seller less than two years ago from a mark of 57, the gelding has risen a remarkable 45lbs in the ratings, and he clearly has the ability to win a race like this, as he showed when doing so over course and distance last time out. He goes well when fresh and looks the one they all have to beat. Arganil can give him plenty to do. The five-year-old has won two of his last three starts and acts well here. However, those successes were punctuated by a defeat of over four lengths by our selection here in November, and given that he is only 2lbs better off today it looks tough for him to reverse the placings. Mullionmileanhour is open to improvement after just two starts, the most recent of which was when making the frame in Royal Ascot's Windsor Castle Stakes last June. With the yard also going well, fitness should not be a huge issue, and he is respected. Smarten Die raids from Germany, where he has not yet been up to winning in Listed company, and his form does not appear strong enough. Of the remainder, Green Manalishi would be a serious threat if at his best, but he has a bit to prove after a woeful effort behind Jaconet in November, and it is the last-named whose chance we are sweetest on here.
Arganil (USA) 4-11fav (9-2) Tracked leader, 2nd 5f out, challenged 2f out, in lead towards finish, held on, won at Lingfield 6f cnd stks (4yo+) (3) pol in Jan beating Aeroplane (8-11) by hd, 4 ran.
Bel Cantor 11-2 (8-1) Made all, ridden over 1f out, kept on gamely towards finish, all out, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs beating Seek The Fair Land (8-3) by hd, 6 ran.
Brunelleschi 50-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon well beaten, last of 16, 28l behind Bended Knee (8-8) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Ebraam (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, pushed along and effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 6l behind Flipando (8-7) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Green Manalishi 8-1 (9-2) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, last of 12, 16l behind Jaconet (8-11) at Lingfield 6f listed stks (1) pol in Nov.
Mullionmileanhour (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Pulled hard early, held up towards far side, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 25, 1 3/4l behind Flashmans Papers (9-3) at Ascot 5f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun '08.
Smarten Die (IRE) (8-12) 5th of 6, 10l behind New Fan (9-2) at Dortmund(GER) 6f hcap in Jan.
Jaconet (USA) 6-1 (8-11) Made all, clear over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Lingfield 6f listed stks (1) pol in Nov beating Ebraam (9-2) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
