always behind
held up towards rear, staying on when hampered inside final 2f, and again over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong and finished well, not recover
chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
mid-division, losing place when not much room on rail over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, narrowly headed final 75 yards, rallied gamely to force dead heat on line
mid-division, headway from 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not quite pace to challenge
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, not pace to challenge
soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
pressed leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly away, always behind
Ryan Moore has ridden two winners from just four rides for Alan King which is reason enough for us to side with COSMEA. Dangers include the likes of recent winners Kidlat and Summer Winds. Cosmea has won two of her three starts over hurdles this winter since last appearing on the Flat and is fancied to continue improving back on the level. She will need to do so as the handicapper appeared to have her measure when last seen but the booking of Moore bodes well. Kidlat hinted at ability more than once in the first few months of the season but it took until last month for things to click and he may well be able to build on that now that he's discovered the winning habit. Summer Winds scored for the first time since his second career start when fitted with blinkers and a 5lb rise in the weights may not prove to be prohibitive if the headgear works as well a second time. There are some experienced campaigners amongst the opposition whilst the lightly raced La Rosa Nostra merits mention in a tongue tie but preference is for Cosmea.
Summer Winds 12-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May beating Gaia Prince (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Basra (IRE) 15-2 (9-1) Soon steadied into 5th, headway over 2f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 6l behind Martyr (9-1) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Baylini 8-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway on rails inside final 2f, stayed on inside final furlong, never pace to challenge, 4th of 11, 6l behind Mountain Pride (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
Bustan (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always behind, 11th of 12, 14l behind Billy Dane (9-0) at Beverley 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gf in May.
Shavansky 11-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led over 5f out, no extra when headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4l behind Mister New York (8-13) at Lingfield 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Cosmea 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, chased leader 3f out, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 10l behind Storyland (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f fll hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Kidlat 8-1 (9-1) Held up, headway and not clear run over 1f out, switched left and running on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May beating Finney Hill (9-3) by 1l, 11 ran.
Barliffey (IRE) 2-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, raced keenly, held up towards rear, hampered over 6f out, headway 2f out, hung left over 1f out, hung right and led well inside final furlong, driven out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct beating Indy Driver (9-3) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
La Rosa Nostra 6-1 (8-12) Tracked winner, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 6l behind Dark Prospect (9-1) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
Northern Spy (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Led after 2f, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on until weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Maadraa (9-4) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in May.
Gallego 12-1 (10-10) Slowly into stride, in rear, outpaced over 3f out, wide and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 7l behind Jo'burg (11-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f am hcp (0-70) (4yo+) (5) gf in May.
Alfie Tupper (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Pulled hard and always in rear, 10th of 11, 16l behind Mountain Pride (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in May.
