slowly into stride, held up, pushed along halfway, headway on inside over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong
always in rear
held up, ridden 3f out, switched right and headway over 1f out, stayed on
soon pushed along in rear, some headway on inside over 1f out, weakened final furlong
with leader until halfway, weakened 2f out
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden, hung right and led over 1f out, ran on
raced wide, keen in touch, ridden well over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
slowly into stride, always in rear
THOUGHTSOFSTARDOM is selected to win the finale for the Phil McEntee yard; Cool Sands and Efisio Queen are put up as the main threats. Thoughtsofstardom has been campaigned over varying distances in recent months and while he holds no secrets with regard to his handicap mark, he should be thereabouts given his consistency. Cool Sands needed every yard of the six furlong trip at Southwell and under his penalty here may just be vulnerable. Efisio Queen has returned to form of late on easy surfaces but she encounters the all-weather for the first time here. Whitbarrow and course specialist Blackeshall Quest are others to consider but Thoughtsofstardom is the pick.
Cool Sands (IRE) 7-4fav (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, driven to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs beating Steel City Boy (8-8) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Whitbarrow (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led after 2f, driven over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Smarty Socks (8-11) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Witchry 4-1fav (8-7) Ridden 4f out, never a factor, last of 8, 16l behind Princess Valerina (8-9) at Folkestone 6f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Oct.
Kensington (IRE) 28-1 (9-5) Always in rear, 9th of 12, 10l behind Alfie Tupper (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
A Wish For You 66-1 (7-12) Always rear group, struggling over 2f out, 11th of 13, 14l behind Stand In Flames (8-7) at Windsor 6f clm (6) gf in Oct.
Thoughtsofstardom 5-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Littledodayno (9-5) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Aug.
Kingsmaite 6-1 (9-2) Prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 6l behind One More Round (8-11) at W'hampton 7f app clm (6) pol in Jun.
Blakeshall Quest 33-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, effort over 2f, one pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 7l behind Invincible Lad (9-3) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Oct.
Efisio Princess 9-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Doric Lady (8-10) at Yarmouth 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Tenancy (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Went right start, made all, stayed on well, won at Musselburgh 5f amt hcp (6) sft beating Grimes Faith (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Kissi Kissi 25-1 (8-8) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, 6th of 7, 6l behind Smirfys Systems (8-9) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Feb.