tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
tracked winner to over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 3f out, tracked winner over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, driven and edged right inside final furlong, headed near finish
held up in 5th, switched left 2f out, soon went 3rd, never any chance with front pair
led, driven along from 2f out, narrowly headed approaching final furlong, continually leaned on throughout final furlong, rallied gamely, stayed on to regain lead near finish
ran green and always last, ridden and struggling early straight
It will be interesting to see how Silca Elegance performs on his debut but Mick Channon's colt looks to face no easy task and a safer bet looks to be Sunshine Kid, with Opera Music looking the pick of the remainder. The selection looked one to keep on the right side of from limited opportunities last term before probably finding conditions too testing when midfield behind Authorized in the Racing Post Trophy at Newbury when last seen. Today's faster ground should suit John Gosden's colt better and he looks worth a bet to resume winning ways here. Opera Music probably also found the ground too testing on the same day at Newbury and has to be respected, while Magic Mountain would need to improve on two-year-old form to trouble the selection. Jane Chapple-Hyam's Lone Wolfe did not beat a great deal when winning a maiden on his Kempton debut, while Yeaman's Hall may need further to show his best form. The same could be said of Sunshine Kid but his overall form looks good enough to take this and he gets the vote.
Magic Mountain (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Prominent, shaken up over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven clear final furlong, readily, won at Salisbury 6f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Jul beating St Philip (9-0) by 2l, 7 ran.
Opera Music 11-1 (8-12) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 10, 5l behind Dijeerr (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) hvy in Oct.
Sunshine Kid (USA) 11-1 (9-0) Driven to chase leaders 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 14, 10l behind Authorized (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) hvy in Oct.
Lone Wolfe 7-1 (9-3) Held up, headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, pushed clear, won at Kempton 7f 3yo mdn aut (5) pol in Jan beating Distant Sun (9-3) by 2l, 14 ran.
Yeaman's Hall 28-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, stayed on well, headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Go On Be A Tiger (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Silca Elegance Selkirk colt out of useful 5f winner Parisian Elegance.
