always prominent, ridden 3f out, one pace and no impression on winner final 2f
held up, headway over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
held up, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, never dangerous after
tracked leaders, led over 3f out, kept on well final 2f
slowly into stride, held up, reminders over 6f out, weakened quickly over 3f out, tailed off
led, ridden 4f out, soon headed, weakened over 2f out
Boule d'Or has a lot more to do off his new mark than when scoring at Goodwood over a three-furlong shorter trip last month and, with Obay having plenty of weight for what he has achieved, the vote goes to Portrait of A Lady. The selection, a maiden winner at Thirsk, got going too late on her debut in a handicap at Chepstow last time but caught the eye staying on strongly close home into third behind Tidal. That run obviously caught the attention of the handicapper as well as the daughter of Peintre Celebre is set to go up 3lbs in future handicaps. Obay, who like the selection won his maiden at Thirsk, was well held in a Goodwood handicap last time but it is interesting that Kieren Fallon remains loyal to Ed Dunlop's colt. Brian Meehan's Gjovic is more exposed than most of these, while Mick Channon's Fire Finch needs to improve on what she has achieved so far to trouble the judge. Master Mahogany is held by Boule d'Or and, unless there is dramatic improvement for the step up in trip from either, this is taken to go to Henry Cecil's Portrait of A Lady.
