pulled hard, raced wide, held up in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed approaching 2f out, weakened final furlong
chased leader until halfway
keen, chased leaders, improved halfway, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 2f out
pulled hard, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and edged right inside final furlong, kept on
pulled hard, held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, soon chased winner, stayed on near finish
held up, improved halfway, led approaching 2f out, ridden out
Strike Up The Band faces no easy task giving weight away all round here and preference is for Jeremy, who is taken to reverse last season's Doncaster form with Manston. The selection has two-and-a-half lengths to find with Brian Meehan's colt on their running in six furlong Listed race at Town Moor in October but is now 6lbs better in, has more suitable ground conditions and should appreciate today's longer trip having been doing all of his best work late on at Doncaster. Manston still has to be respected, especially with his yard in such good form, while Baan would be of interest had Mark Johnston's team been in better heart and may find this trip on the short side anyway. David Nicholls saddles Johannes as well as Fire Up The Band and both warrant respect but look more likely to fair better when dropped back in distance. Another northern raider Misu Bond showed decent form as a juvenile when coming back from an unlucky run in the Mill Reef to win Redcar's Two-Year-Old Trophy and has to be respected as this extra furlong seems to be within his compass. Roger Charlton's Advanced and Mick Channon's Guest Connections are others worthy of a mention but Jeremy makes more appeal and he gets the vote.
Strike Up The Band 6-1 (9-1) Behind on outer, headway and close up halfway, led over 1f out, driven and kept on well final furlong, won at Goodwood 5f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Jul beating Pickett (8-12) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Manston (IRE) (9-0) Led halfway to over 1f out, one pace when headed, 6th of 10, 6l behind Balthazaar's Gift (9-0) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Ba Foxtrot (9-0) Always struggling in rear, last of 10, 26l behind Balthazaar's Gift (9-0) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Johannes (IRE) 5-2 (8-11) Led, switched to stand's side rail after 1f, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, nk behind Sir Xaar (8-11) at Ripon 6f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Aug.
Baan (USA) 9-4 (9-0) Tracked leader until hampered 3f out, squeezed through approaching final furlong, stayed on gamely to lead final 50 yards, won at Epsom 1m 1f 2yo stk (2) gs in Oct beating Dream Fantasy (8-11) by a nk, 5 ran.
Advanced 9-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders and keen, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 7l behind Balthazaar's Gift (8-11) at York 6f 2yo lst stk (1) gs in Oct.
Jeremy (USA) 6-1 (8-9) Prominent, driven to challenge over 1f out, edged right approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Manston (8-9) at Doncaster 6f 2yo lst stk (1) hvy in Oct.
Misu Bond (IRE) 28-1 (9-0) Led far side group and overall leader over 1f out, driven out, won at Redcar 6f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Oct beating Violette (8-12) by 3/4l, 24 ran.
Guest Connections 66-1 (9-0) Chased leaders 4f, 12th of 13, 14l behind Hurricane Cat (8-9) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
