with leader until weakened final furlong
chased leaders, led inside final furlong, headed post
held up, headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
behind, headway when switched left and not clear run over 1f out, kept on, never able to challenge
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon hung right and weakened
held up, keen hold, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
behind, headway over 1f out, never dangerous
prominent, ridden halfway, weakening when hampered inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ridden and hung left inside final furlong, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden and effort over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, not clear run 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead post
chased leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
mid-division, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
The five-furlong precursor to the Guineas can be won by Frizzante, with Smokin Beau possibly proving best of the others. The selection comes here on the back of a very good effort at Newmarket last time when running the very useful Arakan to half-a-length in the six-furlong Abernant Stakes. With that run under her belt, this lightly-raced daughter of Efisio looks to hold a very good chance in this race. People might point to the fact that she has done most of her racing at six furlongs as a downside to her chances. However, she was fast enough to win over five as a three-year-old and possesses that crucial ingredient of a turn-of-foot, so we are happy to give her the vote. Smokin Beau, who was second in this race two years ago, comes here fit and well after a good second to Baron's Pit at Kempton, and he too can go well. With the presence of him, as well as Dubian Gift, in the race, they will not hang about so a cracker of a race lies in store. Many of the other runners will be familiar to you and, overall, there is not much to choose between them on ratings. Of the others, Bonus carries a penalty for a Group 3 success at The Curragh last year, as does the course and distance winner Repertory, who took a Group 3 race at Longchamp in September. However, both could still run well if fully primed for action. Patavellian's half-brother, Avonbridge, has the scope to make up into a very good sprinter this year but lacks a recent run, while Mornin Reserves showed much-improved form on his final start last year and it will be interesting to see if he can build on that effort now. In what has, then, the look of an excellent race, Frizzante is taken to score.
