chased winner, effort over 1f out, never able to challenge
made all, strongly challenged inside final furlong, just held on
prominent, ridden halfway, kept on same pace final furlong
tracked winner, hard driven and effort well over 1f out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden to challenge approaching final furlong, ran on, just failed
chased leaders, soon outpaced, headway under pressure over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
A tight handicap that could go to Godfrey Street but the claims of Distinctly Game and Bo McGinty must be respected. The selection has his first run for Tony Newcombe having been claimed from Kevin Ryan's yard following his cosy success in a claimer over this course and distance. This is more competitive but he wasn't beaten too far on his penultimate start, when Diminuto was second, and getting his head in front should have boosted his confidence. Distinctly Game is in fine form at present but has failed to make the frame on his two previous runs on this course. Admittedly, he was beaten under 3 lengths into fourth on the second of them but he still has a little to prove on this surface. Bo McGinty returned to action with a decent effort and should be spot on for this race following that outing whilst Doubtful Sound is another whose confidence won't have been done any harm by his win in a claimer last time. A tight affair in which preference is for Godfrey Street.
Distinctly Game 9-4fav (9-4) Tracked leader, short of room and bumped over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan beating Westport (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Godfrey Street 5-4fav (9-5) Made all, pushed out, comfortably, won at Southwell 5f 3yo clm (6) fbs in Jan beating Tenancy (8-7) by 6l, 5 ran.
Misaro (GER) 20-1 (8-11) Pressed leader until over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 10, 3l behind Matsunosuke (9-10) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Doubtful Sound (USA) 4-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, switched right entering final furlong, soon led, hung left, ran on well, won at W'hampton 5f clm (5) pol in Jan beating Pegasus Dancer (9-13) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Bo McGinty (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Soon led, headed narrowly over 3f out, stayed pressing leader, with leader 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Bazroy (8-13) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Diminuto 8-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 7l behind Drifting Gold (9-1) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Financial Times (USA) 6-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, effort over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Northern Empire (9-4) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
