tracked leader, weakened well over 2f out
held up in rear, headway halfway, ran on final furlong, no chance with winner
soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, always mid-division
chased leaders, lost place halfway
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing winner, kept on same pace
A modest maiden that may go to TAFAOOL who is preferred to Stoic. Richard Hills could have ridden Alainmaar, an expensive American bred gelding, or the well related Aswaaq who shaped quite nicely on her debut at Leicester. However, he's opted to ride Tafaool for Marcus Tregoning who has saddled three of the last six winners of this race. She showed enough ability on a fairly quiet run at Lingfield on her sole start at two to believe that she can win races this year. Stoic is the one that she has to beat and he should be all the better for his Windsor reappearance where he was no match for a ready winner. Wilfred Pickles certainly has claims on his handicap second to Marching Time but it was disappointing that he failed to break his duck at Bath last time. The market may well guide but the omens look good for Tafaool.
Duchess Of Alba 50-1 (9-5) Slowly away, always in rear, 8th of 9, 32l behind Mezenah (8-12) at Sandown 1m fll mdn stks (5) gd.
Toballa 40-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, weakened 2f out, 12th of 17, 24l behind Lord Theo (10-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Alainmaar (FR) Johar gelding out of Lady Elgar.
Stoic (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Dwelt, held up, headway over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Jesse James (9-3) at Windsor 1m 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gf.
Where's Charlie Where Or When gelding out of Kennedys Prima.
Wilfred Pickles (IRE) 2-1 (9-3) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, driven into modest 3rd over 1f out, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Sahaal (9-3) at Bath 1m mdn stks (5) fm.
Aswaaq (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along 2f out, kept on well inside final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 14, 6l behind Burgundy Ice (9-0) at Leicester 7f 2yo stks (4) sft in Oct.
Head First 100-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 5th of 9, 14l behind Mezenah (8-12) at Sandown 1m fll mdn stks (5) gd.
Tafaool (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Slowly into stride, towards rear on inside, pushed along over 2f out, switched right to outer over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4l behind Bab Al Salam (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn stks (4) pol in Oct.