keen close up, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out
close up, ridden over 3f out, driven to chase winner over 1f out, kept on same pace
led, clear over 5f out, headed 3f out, soon slightly outpaced, driven and kept on inside final furlong
held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
DANDINO boasts the highest rating of these and, given he won on his seasonal debut last year, he gets the vote. James Given's colt won four times in 2010, culminating in a victory in the valuable King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot and there should be more to come from him as a four-year-old. Goodwood winner Total Command is another who should improve this season, but the talented Bikini Babe has just the single victory to her name and is overlooked. Mush Mir and Icon Dream look up against it in this company.
Total Command 40-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, soon eased, 9th of 10, 31l behind Arctic Cosmos (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 6f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Dandino (8-9) 11th of 18, 6l behind Rose Kingdom (8-9) at Tokyo(JPN) 1m 4f Grp 1 fm in Nov.
Icon Dream (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Held up, 10th approaching straight, soon ridden and one pace, 8th of 14, 12l behind Famous Name (9-11) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gf in Oct.
Mush Mir (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) Led 3f, tracked leader until led again 3f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind La Estrella (9-6) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Mar.
Bikini Babe (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Mid-division, never a factor, last of 9, 8l behind Shamali (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f Listed stks (1) pol.