made all, led steady pace, quickened over 3f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out final furlong
tracked leading pair, effort when hung right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, reminders over 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked winner, ridden along over 3f out, one pace final 2f
With Kayf Commander likely to be short of this class and also in need of cut, and Regal Tradition needing a miracle, the concluding race on the card looks to lie between the other trio and preference is for HOBBY. Ralph Beckett has really hit form and he sends Hobby up from Hampshire to contest a race where trip and ground will suit. The Robellino filly has won when fresh before, so a seven month absence is not a concern and we will side with her. Another on a long trip is John Dunlop's Spanish Hidalgo, and he won here on heavy ground in 2007. He does act on fast ground too though, and he should be ultra competitive here. Classic Punch can also go well fresh and has his first run 51 days after a trio of outings on turf at Nad Al Sheba. He is entitled to get heavily involved and the trio should not be too far apart, but we give the edge to Hobby.
Classic Punch (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Led main group; ridden 700m out; beaten 500m out, 13th of 18, 18l behind Front House (8-9) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Spanish Hidalgo (IRE) 7-2 (9-8) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Young Mick (9-2) at Leicester 1m 4f cond Stakes (3) gs in Oct.
Regal Tradition (IRE) 66-1 (8-7) Always in rear, 8th of 10, 16l behind What's Up Doc (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol.
Hobby 5-1 (8-9) Led, ridden 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 15l behind Crystal Capella (8-12) at Ascot 1m 4f fll lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Kayf Commander 13-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, challenged 4f out, switched left over 1f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Cocoa Key (11-2) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gd in Feb.
