in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon hung left, kept on well closing stages
tracked leaders, under pressure over 2f out, soon no impression
held up in touch, took closer order halfway, every chance over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, no extra close home
made all, hard ridden over 2f out, stayed on strongly
tracked leader, ridden and weakened over 2f out
As is the norm in these classified events only a few pounds separate the field on official ratings. Magika arrives out of sorts and the frustrating Aficionado returned to old ways when well beaten at Newbury last time having won at Beverley before that. Stiff Upper Lip makes a belated seasonal debut and steps up in trip along with Leicester winner Special Meaning. The latter has leading claims if lasting home but a chance is taken on KINGSTON EUCALYPT on her first start outside of maiden company. She wasn't beaten far in fifth over today's trip at Lingfield in March and Ed Vaughan's filly has plenty of scope for improvement.
Aficionado 8-1 (9-6) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, never involved, 9th of 15, 18l behind Debdebdeb (9-2) at Newbury 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Kingston Eucalypt 100-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 14, 6l behind Iffraaj Pink (9-0) at Nottingham 1m mdn fll stks (5) gf in May.
Magika 7-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 10l behind Alcaeus (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Special Meaning 11-4fav (8-12) Slowly into stride, towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, headway and ridden over 2f out, kept on to chase winner towards finish, no impression, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Zaitsev (8-5) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Stiff Upper Lip (IRE) 7-4fav (9-2) Held up in touch, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on to dispute 2nd 1f out, kept on but no impression on winner, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Felix Fabulla (9-6) at Bath 1m 2f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.