dwelt, never a factor
towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
behind, tailed off
in touch, driven along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
dwelt, towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up behind leaders, outpaced 3f out, tailed off
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, one pace final furlong
held up, smooth progress 2f out, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
led and headed 3f out, remained in touch until weakened final furlong
towards rear, headway on inside 2f out, weakened final furlong
Another tough race for punters to call and the leading lights looks to be Kumakawa, Shifty and Sir Bond and the vote is given to Shifty. The selection was well-backed when finishing third behind Augustine over this course and distance last time. He has been knocking on the door on each of his last four starts and compensation could await for his supporters here as he is clearly in good heart. Kumakawa won well in this grade a couple of runs ago before being outclassed behind Abbeygate in a better race than this last time. The return to this grade should suit and he has definite place claims. Sir Bond won well last time out over this course and distance and he is lightly-raced so may be capable of more improvement. However, he has had his problems and doesn't look the most straightforward and on that basis we will take him on. Emperor Cat is from a shrewd yard and he would have claims on the pick of his form, but for the winner we return to Shifty.
Shifty 3-1 Held up, headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Augustine at Southwell 1m app hcp (F4) fbs.
Tommytyler (IRE) 13-2 Chased leader until 3f out, ridden and weakened 2f out, 9th of 12, 14l behind Augustine at Southwell 1m app hcp (F4) fbs.
Kumakawa 12-1 Held up, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 8l behind Abbeygate at Southwell 7f stk (G4) fbs.
Air of Esteem 13-2 In touch, lost place when not much room over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 13l behind Fraternity at W'hampton 1m 1f stk (H5) pol in Feb.
Campbells Lad 4-1 Mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed last strides, 2nd of 13, nk behind Muqarrar at Ayr 1m stk (H5) sft in Oct.
Emperor Cat (IRE) 10-1 Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 8th of 13, 6l behind Vizulize at W'hampton 1m 1f amt stk (H5) pol in Feb.
Printsmith (IRE) 16-1 Chased leaders, lost place after 2f, ridden and headway when switched right over 1f out, not much room inside final furlong, stayed on, 5th of 13, 6l behind Vizulize at W'hampton 1m 1f amt stk (H5) pol in Feb.
Sir Bond (IRE) 10-3fav Held up, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, flashed tail and hung left, hung right inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Southwell 1m stk (H5) fbs in Feb beating Mexican by 3l, 14 ran.