in touch in mid-division in main group, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, no impression on winner last 100 yards, lost 2nd close home
awkward start and slowly away, behind, reminders 2f out, headway over 1f out, never nearer
chased leader on stands side, pushed along over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch in mid-division in main group, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, soon beaten
mid-division in main group, headway and switched left over 2f out, led over 1f , ran on well, edged left close home
held up in main group, took keen hold, headway over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, ran on, not able to trouble winner
overall leader on stands side rail, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders in main group, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
led main group, overall leader 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leader in main group, pushed along over 3f out, lost place over 2f out
This looks a tricky puzzle to solve with many of these likely to have strengthened over the winter. Attracted To You and stablemate Celebrity both won their maidens here last summer and have plenty of scope for improvement, while Gentle Lord held his own in decent company as a juvenile and should stay the extra furlong this year. Rigolleto and None Shall Sleep are more exposed but the former ended last season in the Group 1 Criterium De Saint-Cloud, though was well beaten. Mark Johnston's Home Office sneaks in off bottom weight but needs to progress from his all-weather win to figure in this and preference is for EL MUQBIL. The Medicean colt looked an unlucky loser on his final start last year at Newmarket and the form of that race has already been franked.
Rigolleto (IRE) (8-13) 10th of 11, well behind Recital (8-13) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 2f 2yo Grp 1 hvy in Nov.
None Shall Sleep (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Puled hard, held up, rapid headway on outside to chase leaders over 4f out, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon hung right and weakened entering final 2f, 6th of 7, 8l behind Jack Smudge (9-0) at Kempton 6f 2yo hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Oct.
Penny's Pearl (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Held up mid-division, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out, 17th of 18, 15l behind Eucharist (9-3) at Doncaster 6f 2yo fll hcp (2) gd in Sep.
El Muqbil (IRE) 5-4fav (9-3) Fly leapt start, tracked leaders, joined leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead and flashed tail inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 18, hd behind Argocat (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Sikeeb (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Chased leaders to halfway, 15th of 22, 16l behind Ladies Are Forever (7-12) at Redcar 6f Lstd auc stks (1) gs in Oct.
Celebrity 9-2 (9-0) Chased leaders towards stands side rail, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Newbury 6f 2yo fll mdn (4) gd in Jul beating Sylvestris (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Attracted To You (IRE) 10-3 (9-0) Raced under stands side rail, tracked leaders, shaken up over 1f out, led 1f out, ran on, won at Newbury 6f 2yo fll mdn (4) gs in Aug beating Darajaat (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Basilica 11-1 (9-2) Restless in stalls, raced alone on stand's rail, never on terms, behind and virtually pulled up final furlong, tailed off, last of 13, 50l behind Style And Panache (8-11) at Newbury 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sep.
Gentle Lord Evensfav (9-3) Made all, ridden and edged right when pressed over 1f out, in command well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Haydock 6f 2yo mdn (5) sft in Sep beating Chokidar (9-3) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Norse Blues 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out, last of 10, 28l behind Klammer (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Home Office 5-2 (9-3) Prominent, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Motivado (9-3) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
