keen, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten and behind
mid-division, headway to chase leader 2f out, kept on final furlong
tracked leader, led 7f out, quickened up over 3f out, fading when headed over 1f out
led, headed 7f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden 3f out, headway 2f out, ran on to take 3rd well inside final furlong
in rear and keen, ridden 3f out, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, stayed on again to chase winner well inside final furlong, not reached winner
Hannicean made an encouraging return at Newmarket last month and has to be respected but he has yet to prove that he handles ground as testing as this so may be best watched so a better bet may be Spirit of Adjisa, who gets the vote with Abydos rated the pick of the remainder. The selection showed last season that he handles cut in the ground and comes here having made a decent reappearance at Newmarket last month. Blacktoft has yet to show that he handles ground this testing and he may be best left out of calculations, while Zaif has shown his best form on fast ground. Ross Moor encounters testing ground for the first time and more solid claims are held by Abydos, who opened his account in a soft-ground maiden at Nottingham when last seen in October and he could be of interest on his debut in a handicap. Spirit of Adjisa has plenty in his favour though and he gets the vote to open his account for the season today.
Abydos 2-1jt-fav (9-3) Made all, shaken up 2f out, ran on final furlong, eased towards finish, won at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) sft in Oct beating Eco Centrism (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Zaif (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Hatton Flight (8-7) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcap (4) gd in May.
Olimpo (FR) 10-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed inside final 3f, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Brief Goodbye (8-4) at Windsor 1m 4f hcap (4) gs in May.
Spirit of Adjisa (IRE) 17-2 (8-7) Led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, rallied towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Ask The Butler (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcap (4) gf in May.
Venir Rouge 20-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden over 3f out, no impression when hampered over 1f out, 8th of 11, 8l behind Hatton Flight (8-7) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcap (4) gd in May.
Blacktoft (USA) 14-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, switched left over 1f out, driven final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 12, nk behind Bustan (11-0) at Sandown 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Apr.
Hannicean 12-1 (8-13) Raced centre, held up, headway when hampered over 1f out, ran on final furlong, 3rd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Oat Cuisine (8-8) at Newmarket 1m hcap (5) gf in May.
Ross Moor 5-1 (8-4) Held up in rear, effort when switched right approaching 2f out, soon not much room, no chance after, 4th of 5, 5l behind Speedy Sam (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcap (4) gf in May.
Robert The Brave 16-1 (8-10) Rider lost iron leaving stalls, raced wide, headway to go 3rd halfway, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 7, 29l behind Ask The Butler (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcap (4) gf in May.
