chased leader, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, edged right, one pace final furlong
slowly into stride, outpaced, lost touch over 3f out
in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, beaten over 1f out
slowly into stride, soon prominent, ridden over 4f out, hampered over 2f out, soon hung left, stayed on same pace final furlong
tracked leaders, not clear run, switched left over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well
led, headed over 3f out, edged right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
The market will tell us plenty here and Hellfire Bay is picked ahead of Tevez and Soxy Doxy. Hellfire Bay has shaped as if he needed further on all recent evidence and Kevin Ryan is obviously taking no chances with the application of sheepskin cheekpieces this afternoon. Tevez has had plenty of chances and may find that his prominent style of racing is helpful in relation to racing around here. A victory would be a reward to the returning Jimmy Quinn. Soxy Doxy is particularly well related and is one to watch in the market given the form of Mark Johnston. She didn't pull up any trees on debut but this is an obvious opportunity if she has improved for the run. Kirkie is an interesting newcomer to note while Musical Feud hails from the in-form Jane Chapple-Hyam team. Just Kenko was a relatively cheap buy at the sales. A race that could throw up a couple of winners over the course of the winter and we are with Hellfire Bay.
Hellfire Bay 3-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, chased leader over 2f out until well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Safebreaker (9-3) at Southwell 7f 2yo mdn (5) fbs in Dec.
Just Kenko Primo Valentino colt out of an unraced mare.
Kirkie (USA) Gulch gelding, half-brother to winning miler Reflector and 7f-1m1f winner Morghim.
Musical Feud (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always behind, 12th of 13, 16l behind Parisian Gift (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Dec.
Tevez 7-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 16l behind Martyr (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Soxy Doxy (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, ridden to challenge over 3f out, soon under pressure and weakened, 8th of 10, 12l behind La Rosa Nostra (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn fll (5) gf in Oct.