soon ridden along in mid-division, struggling from halfway
in rear, ridden and some headway 3f out, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leader, ridden and hung right over 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f
towards rear, never nearer
led, ridden clear over 1f out, headed and one pace inside final furlong
raced wide, in touch until halfway
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, chased leader 2f out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 3f out until 2f out
dwelt, soon chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened
awkward at start and lost many lengths, behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, never near leaders
In the hope that Brigadoon has advertised the form we'll side with MASTER LEON ahead of Doctor Zhivago and Whitby. Brian Smart's colt does admittedly look pretty modest but ran well enough behind Vegas Palace and Brigadoon last time, suggesting a small maiden may come his way. The son of Monsieur Bond is progressing with racing and should be suited by stepping back up to a mile having been a touch outpaced last time and may be able to put his experience to good use here. Doctor Zhivago could be a very big danger to our selection, particularly if the market shows the right signals about this Mark Johnston newcomer. Related to a number of winners including on this surface, the son of Shamardal is bred to be a bit better than these and although the stable's two-year-olds usually come on for the run this one might still be a serious player here. He is narrowly passed over as this surface asks a big question of newcomers, as Whitby found out when disappointing as a well-backed favourite over course and distance last time. With improvement likely from that run and course experience now in the bag, Mick Easterby's charge may be capable of better here. Budva finished ahead of Whitby that day and so is worthy of attention although he did have a fitness and experience advantage and is far from certain to confirm the form today, whilst Cast Of Stars is an interesting all-weather debutant having run well in a couple of better-looking maidens this season. Plenty of questions to be answered here and several with some sort of claims, but we'll take the experience of Master Leon to be just enough this time.
Budva 5-2 (8-12) Tracked winner, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Nazreef (8-8) at Southwell 1m 2yo nov stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Cordiality 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 11, 13l behind Ceilidh House (8-12) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Doctor Zhivago Shamardal colt out of Balalaika.
Dynamic Idol (USA) Dynaformer colt out of El Nafis.
Ever A Gent 18-1 (8-1) Steadied start, held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 23l behind Nazreef (8-8) at Southwell 1m 2yo nov stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Master Leon 5-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along over 3f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Vegas Palace (8-6) at Southwell 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) fbs in Nov.
Catawollow 100-1 (8-12) Raced wide, in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 16, 13l behind Green Lightning (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Labretella (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Led, ridden 3f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Tealing (8-11) at Southwell 7f 2yo clm stks (6) fbs in Nov.
Mon Mon (IRE) Refuse To Bend filly out of Adaja.
Straversjoy 150-1 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 15, 15l behind Burj Nahar (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Whitby (IRE) 9-4fav (8-3) Dwelt, pulled hard, in rear, improved to go in touch halfway, chased winner over 2f out, ridden and hung badly left over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 9l behind Nazreef (8-8) at Southwell 1m 2yo nov stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Cast Of Stars (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) Disputed lead, stayed on far rail in straight, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 13, 9l behind Ted Spread (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 1f 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Pobs Trophy 100-1 (8-10) Slowly away, outpaced, always behind, 8th of 9, 27l behind Solicitor (9-3) at Southwell 7f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) fbs in Nov.
Red Valerian Two (IRE) 150-1 (9-3) Soon tracked leaders, short of room and lost place over 4f out, last of 10, 45l behind Judiciary (9-3) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Nov.
