held up, headway on outer over 2f out, edged left approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace
made all, shaken up and clear over 1f out, very comfortably
in touch, ridden along over 3f out, soon beaten
in touch, ridden along when outpaced over 2f out, stayed on towards finish
started slowly and towards rear, headway on inner over 3f out, stayed on final 2f, had no chance with winner
Mark Johnston's string is in such good order that Kochanski has to be feared but ULTIMATE has sound claims and can enhance his trainer's decent course record. Hughie Morrison is also represented by Benozzo Gozzoli who is a full brother to dual course winner Sularno so it will be interesting to see what the market makes of his chance in respect to his stablemate. The trainer has a near one in four strike rate from over a hundred runners at the track and Ultimate did enough behind a couple of useful sorts here last time to think that he can provide his handler with another winner at the track. Kochanski was beaten a long way on her debut at Redcar but she's been given plenty of time and may prove capable of better for a yard that is in red hot form. Antipodean is related to a couple of winners but isn't an obvious candidate for debut success whilst First Hand was beaten twenty lengths over seven furlongs at this track and would need to leave that form a long way behind. This isn't the strongest of maidens and Ultimate rates the one to beat.
Antipodean (UAE) Halling gelding out of Anka Britannia.
Benozzo Gozzoli Medicean gelding out of Star Precision.
Ultimate 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f, driven and one pace final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Racketeer (9-3) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn (5) fbs in Dec.
First Hand 80-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, behind and outpaced, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 20l behind Kinigi (7-9) at Southwell 7f 2yo clm (6) fbs in Nov.
Kochanski (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 15l behind Punch Drunk (9-0) at Redcar 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) gs in Aug.
Miss Christophene (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden 3f out, never near leaders, 7th of 10, 10l behind Three Ducks (9-0) at Great Leighs 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Dec.