in touch, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold and in touch, effort over 2f out, soon behind
never better than mid-division
slowly into stride and behind, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, not quickened and one pace final furlong
towards rear, never dangerous
made all, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and kept on final furlong
tracked leader, lost place over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, always behind
Hills Spitfire can defy an absence to account for Mijdaaf and Apsara, with Cantarna also worth a second glance in the maiden. Hills Spitfire has not been seen since finishing fourth behind Fun And Games at Newmarket last November, having earlier finished like the proverbial train when touched off by Lunar Exit on his debut at Headquarters a month earlier. Bred to be perfectly suited to middle-distances, Peter Harris's charge should hopefully be fit enough to return to the fray with a win. Mijdaaf had plenty of ground to make up on his Sandown debut behind Trew Class and should improve a few pounds, while Apsara was put in her place by Tartouche at Kempton but is another that can only improve. Cantarna has plenty of experience in the context of this race but meets rivals with potentially more scope so will have to run right up to her best, and we expect Hills Spitfire to gain due reward for last season's two promising efforts.
