chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
led after 2f, ridden and headed entering 2f out, soon outpaced
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
led for 2f, ridden to lead again entering 2f out, edged left final furlong, kept on
hampered start, pushed along towards rear, weakened over 2f out
slowly away behind, chasing leaders halfway, stayed on final furlong
slowly away, in rear, kept on final 2f, never troubled leaders
in touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out
Dandy Nicholls has a strong hand here with Turnkey and Fire Up The Band in the line up, however Patavellian is just preferred on this occasion. The selection took on some top sprinters in 2005 and ran with credit everytime. He only made the racecourse once last year when going down by just over two lengths in the Palace House Stakes. If back to his best following his lay off he would be hard to beat this afternoon. Turnkey has joined the sprint king from Mick Channon and this lightly raced five-year-old could be the pick of the Nicholls due having gone close in good company last season. Fire Up The Band went off the boial towards the end of last season but can never be discounted in this type of event. The two four-year-old Terentia and Charles Darwin have bags of ability and can also get involved in the finish, but if Patavellian is back on song he may be the answer in a very tricky event.
Bond City (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Led, strongly pressed from over 1f out, headed and no extra post, 2nd of 11, shd behind Mecca's Mate (8-12) at Newmarket 5f hcp 0-110 (2) gs in Oct.
Cape Royal 11-2 (8-10) Slowly away, always towards rear, 11th of 14, 7l behind Dhaular Dhar (8-10) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Charles Darwin (IRE) 10-1 (8-7) In touch, ridden to chase leaders halfway, switched right inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 13, 3l behind King Orchisios (8-10) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Oct.
Fire Up The Band 33-1 (9-9) Behind, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 8l behind Celtic Mill (9-9) at York 5f lst stk (1) gd in Sept.
Nepro (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 1l behind Cool Sands (8-1) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Patavellian (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Raced centre, held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 22, 2l behind Dandy Man (8-4) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in May.
Turnkey 9-2 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, led briefly just over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Polar Ben (9-8) at Goodwood 7f stk (3) sft in May.
Terentia 6-1 (8-12) Unruly start, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 12th of 16, 8l behind Firenze (8-13) at Newmarket 6f lst fll stk (1) gs in Oct.