prominent, driven over 2f out, soon beaten
in touch, led over 3f out, headed 3 out, ridden, one pace until weakened final furlong
towards rear, never a factor
never better than mid-division
in touch, driven along over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, led 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, driven out final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
led, headed over 3f out, effort when weakening 2f out
held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong
mid-division, pushed along, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner final furlong
Stevedore gets the vote in a wide-open affair, with Blueberry Tart, Paso Doble and Cantarna others in with a shout. Stevedore has been most consistent of late, having won two out of his last five outings, at Musselburgh and more recently here at Southwell. He was beaten by his wide draw as much as anything last time, and as he is now drawn inside Blueberryy Tart, he should have her measure as they meet on the same terms as when separated by a neck in the race won by Amorist. Eddie Ahern is once again in the plate and that is definitely a plus factor. Blueberry Tart has shaped as though a return to 10 furlongs is needed, and a bigger danger may be Paso Doble who came back from a break to score over seven furlongs here last time. He has won over a mile here in the past, and should go well despite a small rise in the weights, with Amir Quinn taking a valuable three-pounds off his back. Cantarna ran a blinder to be a close second on her Wolverhampton debut, and we would have rather seen her return there instead of now trying this surface for the first time, but she is at least going the right way. All in all, Stevedore is the one to be on.
Cantarna (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (9-2) Prominent, led 2f out, soon ridden, headed and not quicken well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Midnight Lace (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f fll hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Windy Prospect 10-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 5l behind General Feeling (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov.
Stevedore (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden to chase winner 3f out, no impression from over 1f out, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Amorist (8-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Blueberry Tart (IRE) 4-1 (8-9) Prominent, ridden to chase winner 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Almanshood (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol.
Balearic Star (IRE) 9-1 (8-8) Broke well, soon outpaced, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, nk behind Abbeygate (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Paso Doble 18-1 (8-10) Behind, switched right and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead near finish, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov beating Scuba (8-6) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Acorazado (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 13, 13l behind Ever Cheerful (8-13) at Lingfield 7f clm (6) pol.
Band 11-2 (9-1) Always prominent, joined leader over 4f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 14, 3/4l behind Abbeygate (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
