slowly into stride, held up, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out (hand timed)
with leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, not troubled leaders
held up towards rear, hampered and lost place over 4f out
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed no extra over 1f out
led, headed over 6f out, ridden and weakened quickly over 3f out
always in rear
chased leader, led over 6f out, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden 3f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon one pace
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 3f out
mid-division, headway over 3f out to chase leaders, soon ridden, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong
towards rear, edged left over 4f out, ridden and headway 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, with leaders, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
A wide open contest rounds off the card and plenty would have chances on their best form but the principals look to be Latif, Tacid and To Be Fare and the tentative vote is given to Tacid. The selection won well last time when beating To Be Fare and although that rival is better off at the weights here, the selection won with plenty in hand and he is taken to confirm his superiority over him. Latif rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Indian Edge. That form has since been franked but his penalty will make it harder and at likely odds he looks worth taking on. To Be Fare is sure to run his race but he is becoming hard to win with; although he may improve for a first time eyeshield. Tirailleur is from a yard in form and could go well at a price but he looks weighted up to his best. It Must Be Speech looks sure to have the race run to suit and from a good draw he could go well, but in a race which is wide open, for the winner we return to Tacid.
Latif (USA) 6-1 (8-12) Held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) pol in Jan beating Indian Edge (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Tacid 8-1 (8-11) Always prominent, led over 4f out, ridden out, won at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Jan beating To Be Fare (8-11) by 1l, 13 ran.
Crusoe (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Desert Lover (8-11) at Southwell 7f banded stk (7) fbs in Jan.
Desert Fury 7-1 (8-11) Dwelt, behind, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on, 5th of 14, 6l behind dhtrs Sonderborg (8-11) & Sierra (8-8) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Jan.
It Must Be Speech 8-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, kept on under pressure final 2f, never near leaders, 6th of 13, 4l behind Mad Maurice (9-0) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Jan.
Printsmith (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 12, 14l behind Mister Clinton (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Tirailleur (IRE) 5-4fav (8-11) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Sea Frolic (8-11) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Dec.
To Be Fare (IRE) 7-2fav (8-11) Held up, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Tacid (8-11) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Jan.
