with leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
broke well, soon held up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway to chase leaders over 2f out, soon one pace
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, every chance when hung left inside final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace
slowly into stride, held up and wide, headway 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ridden out
held up in rear, headway on inside 3f out, soon one pace
headway to join leaders after 2f, ridden and weakened 3f out
with leaders over 5f
with leaders over 5f
held up in rear, headway on inside 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden 3f out, headway and hung left over 1f out, one pace
Bold Phoenix, Pearl Island and Desert Fury are three against the field in this competitive opener and the vote is given to Bold Phoenix. The selection is well in on his best form and although his better efforts have been over a longer trip this is a poor race and from a good draw he looks the one to be on. Pearl Island rates the main danger on his best form and he did not run too badly in a handicap last time out. This is easier and he will not be far away . Desert Fury was a fair fourth behind Latif last time and is another with place claims but he is hard to win with so can't be backed with any confidence. Of the rest, Starcross Maid and Kumakawa are thrown in on their best form and both could run well at a price but consistency is not their strong point and in a race where the market will be very informative for the winner we return to Bold Phoenix.
Pearl Island (USA) 4-1 (8-6) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 11, 9l behind Desert Lover (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs.
Bold Phoenix (IRE) 11-4fav (8-11) Held up, ridden, headway 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 12, 32l behind Scorchio (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f banded stk (7) pol in Nov.
Crusoe (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Held up towards rear, hampered and lost place over 4f out, 11th of 14, 24l behind Latif (9-1) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs.
Desert Fury 8-1 (8-11) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed no extra over 1f out, 4th of 14, 4l behind Latif (9-1) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs.
Kumakawa 9-2 (8-4) Dwelt, behind, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 11l behind Tacid (8-11) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Jan.
Silver Court 4-1fav (8-7) Always in rear, last of 12, 28l behind Tipsy Lad (8-7) at W'hampton 7f banded stk (7) pol in Sept.
Starcross Maid 16-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway over 3f out to chase leaders, soon ridden, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Latif (9-1) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs.
Tommytyler (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) In touch, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 7l behind Thornaby Green (8-12) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Nov.
