patiently ridden in mid-division, closed steadily 2f out, soon switched right, quickened, over 1f out, came between horses entering final furlong, strong run to lead final 50 yards
slowly away and always in rear
chased leader, driven to challenge 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
switched right start, held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, driven and stayed on, never quite able to challenge
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out and soon eased
took keen hold, held up in rear, no real progress final 2f
chased leading pair, driven along over 2f out, weakened quickly
raced wide, in touch, ridden and wandered 2f out, kept on under pressure to take 3rd inside final furlong, no pace of front pair
raced freely in lead, strongly pressed and kept on well from over 1f out, until found no extra and headed final 50 yards
chased leaders, hard driven over 1f out, weakened final 1f, disputing well held 5th when eased up inside final furlong
Burgundy Ice looks to be the key horse in this race but we'll stick with MARVO unless the market suggests otherwise. There may be more to come from Eastern Warrior now that he's got in front. The Godolphin runner looked a fair prospect when comfortably scoring on debut but she failed to run her race when stepped up to Listed company the following month. They've given her plenty of time, she's bred to make a three year-old and could make short work of her initial mark. Eastern Warrior enjoyed the run of the race in a weak maiden at Ripon and had been struggling in handicaps from this mark prior to that. However, mentally the win may have done him so good so he isn't dismissed. Romany Princess' penalty raises her mark to one that she has struggled to win from in the past so we prefer the claims of Marvo who appears to have been showing the best form of his career. He's on a career high mark as a result but could conceivably have been given a couple of more pounds. Connections appear to have found the key to him and Marvo can score again.
Romany Princess (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up, not clear run over 2f out, switched left and quickened to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, eased near finish, won at Windsor 1m flls hcp 0-80 (4) gd beating Tinshu (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Bustan (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Mid-division, losing place when not much room on rail over 1f out, 9th of 11, 7l behind Cosmea (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Jun.
Salient 16-1 (9-7) Chased leader, led narrowly over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 12th of 14, 12l behind Gold Express (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Marvo 5-1 (8-9) Held up in touch, headway on outside over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well to lead well inside final furlong, won at Doncaster 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jun beating Tiger Dream (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Highly Regal (IRE) 8-1 (9-11) Took keen hold, tracking leaders, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon no impression on winner, and lost 2nd final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Gold Express (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Daniel Thomas (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, always rear, struggling over 2f out, soon tailed off and eased, last of 8, well behind Prince Of Thebes (9-3) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Phluke 14-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, came stands side over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong, 5th of 6, 12l behind Northern Spy (9-1) at Epsom Downs 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Thunder Gorge (USA) 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division, brought wide and effort over 3f out, soon beaten, 18th of 19, 43l behind Prince Evelith (8-11) at York 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Jun.
Burgundy Ice (USA) 4-1fav (8-12) Held up, raced keenly, headway over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, 19l behind Enticement (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2yo fll lst stks (1) gs in Nov.
My Shadow 13-2 (9-3) Tracked leading pair, came towards centre 3f out, soon ridden, chased winner 1f out, edged left and weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Eastern Aria (9-2) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Eastern Warrior 5-4fav (9-3) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Ripon 1m mdn stks (5) gd beating Canyon Ranch (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
