tracked leading pair, went 2nd before 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
rear-division, plugged on from 2 out, never near leaders
slight lead until after 1st, held up off the pace in 5th, closer in 4th after 4 out, 3rd before next, 4th and struggling when mistake 2 out, weakened quickly run-in
always rear-division, mistake 3rd,reminders and struggling before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up in mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders after 4 out, 4th before next, went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, never any chance with winner
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, pushed along in 6th before next, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader after 1st, led before 3 out, clear before next, driven out, eased towards finish
chased leading pair, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, tailed off next, pulled up soon after
well in rear, not fluent 3rd, tailed off 4 out, never on terms
raced keenly, led after 1st, headed and weakened quickly before 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, slightly outpaced after 4 out, kept on after 2 out, went modest 4th run-in
reminders and struggling 3rd, always towards rear, tailed off
Three of the more interesting runners in this are returning from very lengthy absences. It’s more than two year since Madiba Passion’s fourth at Kempton while Surfman hasn’t raced since unplaced in the French Derby in June 2019, though was a smart performer on the level. Fiesta De Vega is having a first run since September last year but his yard have a good strike-rate with their few NH runners. PEKING ROSE had decent bumper form and there was plenty to like about his first run over timber at Ascot so he gets the nod with more to come. Bascule has rattled up a four-timer on the all-weather this year but may need today’s experience but Horn Cape was stopped in his tracks by a blunder at Exeter and that run can be ignored.
Hardi Du Mesnil (FR) (10-10) won at Pau 2m 1f hvy in Jan beating Happy De Reve (10-5) by 4l, 10 ran.
Hiway One O Three (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Chased leader, not fluent 6th, pushed along and weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, dist behind Rainyday Woman (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
Horn Cape (FR) 11-4fav (10-12) Prominent, bad mistake 3rd, pulled up before 4 out, at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Joey's Gift 14-1 (10-7) Tracked leader early stages, outpaced and niggled along in rear passing the winning post for the first time, rallied and headway to track leader approaching home turn, pushed along home turn, soon ridden and left in third, never nearer closing stages, 3rd of 4, 18 1/2l behind Furlough Me (11-0) at Fontwell 1m 6f (5) gf in Mar.
Ladykiller (GER) 150-1 (9-9) Chased leaders on outer, raced freely, lost ground over 5f out, soon under pressure and dropped away 4f out, last of 12, dist behind Prince Alex (8-9) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Party Island (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, slow 3rd, headway before 3 out, 3rd 2 out, held last, kept on, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Nurse Susan (10-11) at Leicester 2m (3) gs in Dec.
Peking Rose 9-4 (10-12) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden between last two, went 3rd at the last, kept on run-in, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Kandoo Kid (10-12) at Ascot 2m (3) sft in Oct.
Sands Chorus 12-1 (10-7) Raced alone towards far side, prominent with centre group, weakened over 1f out, last of 13, 27 1/4l behind Global Art (10-6) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (4) gf in Sep.
Sarim (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Chased leader until mistake 2nd, mistake again and lost place next, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind I Am Maximus (11-4) at Newbury 2m mdn (4) gs in Dec.
Surfman (9-3) 8th of 15, 11 1/2l behind Sottsass (9-3) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Jun.
Think For A Minit Sixties Icon gelding out of Time To Think.
Bascule (FR) 6-5fav (9-2) In touch, headway when not clear run briefly 2f out, ridden to chase leader entering final furlong, ran on to lead post, won at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Marshall Plan (9-7) by ns, 7 ran.
Telefina 150-1 (10-5) Held up, headway under 4 out, no further impression and weakened from under 2 out, 6th of 10, dist behind Kotmask (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Dec.
Alghazaal 10-3 (10-12) Tracked winner until pushed along 3 out, weakened approaching last, finished tired, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Brief Times (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Fiesta De Vega 10-3 (9-9) Edgy in stalls, tracked leader over 1f, remained handy, went 2nd again 5f out until 2f out, 2nd again over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 6, 3 3/4l behind Moving Light (9-9) at Kempton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Sep.
Madiba Passion (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Mid-division, closer 4 out, chased leaders before next, led on long run before 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, weakened run-in, 4th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Golden Taipan (11-8) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Nov.
