held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders approaching next, led run-in, stayed on strongly
led, ridden between last 2, headed approaching last, weakened run-in
chased leading trio, pushed along before 2 out, outpaced last, stayed on well towards finish
held up in 5th on inside, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, kept on run-in, almost snatched 2nd
raced keenly, tracked leader after 1st, ridden to lead approaching last, headed run-in, no chance with winner, just held on for 2nd
never jumped with any fluency, always in rear
chased leader until after 1st, handy 3rd until ridden and weakened before 2 out
held up in last pair, headway approaching 3 out, ridden between last 2, soon beaten
This is a competitive opener considering it’s restricted to conditional jockeys. Richard Patrick is MAGIC DANCER’s regular partner and can still claim 3lb. Kerry Lee’s charge didn’t win last season but was placed four times, including on his reappearance off this mark at Cheltenham. He’s had wind surgery and could be the one to beat if the operation has had the desired effect. Cosmeapolitan has been lightly raced over hurdles but has been in action on the Flat this year. Our Merlin has placed on both starts here and also rates a danger but the ground may not be soft enough for Zanza. Capone will strip fitter for a run at Fontwell and looks the pick of the four-year-olds.
Zanza (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, closer in mid-division 4 out, weakened, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Our Merlin 14-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, led, blundered 4th, ridden between last 2, headed run-in, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Zanza (11-9) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Magic Dancer 11-2 (11-7) Led 2nd until 4th, led 5th, not fluent and headed 3 out, no extra 2 out, 6th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Mystic Sky (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gd in May.
Cosmeapolitan 33-1 (8-11) Held up behind, outpaced over 2f out, never a threat, last of 14, 24l behind Breden (9-0) at Newbury 1m hcp (2) gd in May.
Westbrook Bertie 4-1 (9-7) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 10l behind Royal Family (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 3f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
Capone (GER) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked winner until not much room on inside at 2nd, awkward and lost place 4th, weakened and never on terms after, 6th of 9, 27l behind Harefield (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Petit Palais 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, ridden between last 2, never on terms, 4th of 9, 12 3/4l behind Torpillo (11-10) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Deadline Diva 33-1 (11-3) Took keen hold in rear, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, weakened 2 out, last of 15, 37l behind Legal History (10-4) at Ascot 2m hcp fll (2) gd in Mar.
