prominent, ridden along over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
towards rear, ridden along over 4f out, some late headway, never reached challenging position
started slowly, soon in touch, ridden along over 2f out, driven and one pace until weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led, set steady pace, quickened over 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
prominent, pushed along over 3f out, effort when weakening final furlong
prominent, ridden along over 3f out, weakened final furlong
always rear division
towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, ridden along and headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ran on final furlong
mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway on wide outside, driven over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
always behind
Four for the short list here are Princess Lavinia, Malinsa Blue, Charlotte Vale and Anne Bronte, and we take Princess Lavinia to make it back-to-back victories. The selection was a 10f winner at Kempton on the polytrack last time, and although that was a very ordinary handicap she finally got the hang of things and over this trip on turf she looks the type capable of following up that effort. Anne Bronte is lightly raced and Mark Johnston's filly stays further than this, so the stiff Pontefract circuit might play to her strengths, so she is respected. Others who merit consideration are Malinsa Blue and Charlotte Vale. The former comes here on a hat-trick after successive wins over a mile here and 10f at Beverley. She has now gone up 10lb for those successes and this will be tougher but she is expected to be thereabouts, while course winner Charlotte Vale would doubtless prefers the rains to come. But Princess Lavinia looked worth another look after her win last time and can repeat the dose.
Malinsa Blue (IRE) 3-1 (8-7) Held up, headway over 2f out, led well over 1f out, ran on final furlong, won at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Im Spartacus (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Princess Lavinia 11-2 (8-13) In touch, ridden to challenger over 1f out, stayed on steadily under pressure to lead final 100 yards and asserted towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating Revolve (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Charlotte Vale 15-2 (8-5) Behind, pushed along over 5f out, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Halla San (9-3) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Apr.
Jenny Soba 6-1 (8-8) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, 4th of 13, 5l behind Sedgwick (9-4) at Nottingham 1m 2f mdn hcp (6) gs.
Anne Bronte 7-1 (8-2) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 16l behind Celestial Halo (8-7) at Newcastle 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd in Apr.
Etoile d'Or (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders far side, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Magic Echo (9-0) at Newcastle 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) gs in Oct.
Susiedil (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 11l behind Scottish River (9-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Apr.
Celtic Memories (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Soon led, ridden along over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Sadler's Kingdom (8-13) at Beverley 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gd.
