dwelt held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on strongly to lead towards finish
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakening when short of room approaching final furlong
took keen hold held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and no impression towards finish
close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong
keen tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, weakened 2f out
led, ridden over 1f out, headed towards finish
held up, ridden 3f out, never a factor
raced wide took keen hold close up until steadied back after 2f, towards rear, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
This looks a competitive affair and the form should be worth following. Manson had been keeping good company prior to scoring at Kempton in November. Shaan won at the same track in January and may have needed the run when a beaten favourite at Chelmsford on her latest start. She has plenty of scope but so does SKY SHIP (NAP), who looks a typical Sir Michael Stoute improver that we may see competing at a higher level later this year. He had a host of subsequent winners behind when getting off the mark at Wolverhampton in the autumn and a rating of 82 looks workable on his handicap debut. Defrocked and Graceful James are other unexposed types and preferred to Mediciman and Il Piccolo Grande of the others.
Manson 11-10fav (9-5) Led after 1f, made rest, ridden when strongly challenged over 1f out, held on well under pressure final furlong, won at Kempton 7f mdn stks (4) pol in Nov beating War Story (9-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Show Me Again 7-4fav (8-12) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon headed, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Bag of Diamonds (8-0) at Lingfield 1m (3) pol in Dec.
Defrocked (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, led final 100 yards, won going away, won at Windsor 1m mdn stks (5) gs in Apr beating Wave Reviews (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Shaan (IRE) 7-4fav (9-6) Tracked leader, ridden to lead entering final 2f, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Mise En Rose (9-7) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp fll (3) pol in May.
Sky Ship 4-6fav (9-5) Always handy, led over 1f out, edged left and clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Hutton (9-5) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Il Piccolo Grande (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) Held up in last pair, headway over 3f out, not clear run over 1f out, modest 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 3/4l behind Dragon Mall (9-3) at Chelmsford City 1m stks (2) pol in Sep.
Pushaq (IRE) 11-8fav (8-8) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, led close home, held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (6) pol in Mar beating Knights Table (8-8) by ns, 9 ran.
White Poppy (IRE) 4-1 (8-7) Tracked leader, led approaching final 2f, edged left inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, stayed on and on top towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (6) pol in Apr beating Rebel Cause (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Mediciman 3-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders centre, switched left to track leader stand side over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Prize Money (9-5) at Newmarket 1m mdn stks (4) gs in Oct.
Art Echo 16-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, chased leading pair until pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, eased when no chance final furlong, last of 10, 28 1/4l behind Medburn Dream (9-0) at Chepstow 1m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Henry The Explorer (CAN) 16-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 6, 9 3/4l behind Another Go (9-6) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Graceful James (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, effort 2f out, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Kempton 1m mdn stks (4) pol in Dec beating High Shields (9-5) by 2l, 12 ran.
Van Dyke 2-1fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, effort on inner over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 7l behind Combative (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (6) pol in Apr.
Premier Currency (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division on inside, weakened inside final 3f, soon behind, eased final 2f, tailed off, last of 9, 22 1/2l behind Grapevine (9-4) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
