tracked leader, effort over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
always prominent, led over 3f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up in touch, headway to track leaders over 4f out, led inside final furlong, wandered under pressure, ran on
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway over 3f out, never on terms
held up, reminders after 3f, headway 3f out, soon ridden, no impression
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 3f out, soon weakened
Tartouche could provide the answer in the finale and she gets the call ahead of Wunderwood and Massif Centrale. The Lady Herries-trained selection is only lightly raced but won a Group 3 race at Goodwood last July, admittedly on soft going. However, she is open to further improvement and has already won over course and distance. Lady Herries also runs Wunderwood who, despite some not-so-good efforts of late, now races from three pounds below a winning mark from Hamilton last May. Turning to the others, and Sri Diamond recorded a career-best effort to land a Lingfield all-weather Group 3 over 10 furlongs in March but needs to prove that he can do the same on Turf. Massif Centrale could yet be interesting as, despite a lack of recent form, he has returned to a winning 2003 mark and races in a first-time tongut-tie. David Elsworth's other runner, Wavertree Boy is now just three pounds above a winning mark - albeit from June 2003 - and is lightly-raced and open to improvement, while Alan King tends to do well with his Flat runners and former German Listed winner Pretty Star could yet go well. Most of the others, for us, need improved efforts if they are to score, but the lightly-raced all-weather winner Country Pursuit's chance is not a forlorn one, even though he has been raised six pounds for that win. Once again, though, the selection is Tartouche.
Wunderwood (USA) 9-1 (8-13) Led until headed 2f out, no extra over 1f out, last of 6, 3l behind Simple Exchange (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stk (1) pol in Apr.
Camrose 7-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, led 3f out, driven, edged left and headed near finish, no extra, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Ebtikaar (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Tartouche (9-0) 4th of 12, 3l behind Farouge (9-4) at Taby 1m 4f Grp 3 gd in Sept.
Massif Centrale 25-1 (9-8) Behind, weakened over 3f out, last of 12, well behind Ouninpohja (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Idealistic (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Raced mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 11, 9l behind Tarandot (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 6f lst fll stk (1) hvy in Oct.
Pretty Star (GER) 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 15th of 21, 19l behind Sualda (8-9) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (C) gd in Aug '04.
Country Pursuit (USA) 11-2 (9-1) Led, headed 7f out, prominent, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr beating Young Mick (9-4) by 2l, 8 ran.
Given A Choice (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Dwelt, keen hold and soon mid-division, ridden on inside over 3f out, soon beaten, 13th of 15, 8l behind Prince Samos (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Wavertree Boy (IRE) 5-2 (8-7) Settled 3rd, driven 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 4, 8l behind Supremacy (9-3) at Ascot 2m lst stk (A) frm in Sept '03.
Sunday Symphony 4-1fav (9-5) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, hung right 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Red Peony (8-13) at York 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Sri Diamond 10-1 (9-1) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no headway and weakened 2f out, eased over 1f out, last of 11, 50l behind Mubtaker (9-1) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Royal Jet 10-1 (8-4) Held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, chased winner 1f out, edged right and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Kerashan (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Oct.
