tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, eased near finish
switched right at start, raced wide, towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, not reach leaders
with leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
led over 4f out, until over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up mid-division, outpaced halfway, headway over 1f out, edged left and stayed on final furlong, not trouble leaders
chased leaders, ridden and soon struggling from halfway
slowly into stride, outpaced, ridden halfway, some headway over 1f out, never dangerous
held up, always in rear
outpaced from halfway
led, headed over 4f out, remained prominent, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
Our shortlist here consists of Feast Of Romance, Labelled With Love and Sergeant Slipper, with the vote going to Labelled With Love. The selection gained a couple of seven-furlong Banded Stakes wins before being just denied at Lingfield over six furlongs last time. Staying at six furlongs on this surface should be no major problem and we reckon he's the one to beat today. Feast Of Romance remains well weighted on the very best of his form and, coming here on the back of a victory, is clearly in good heart and can be expected to run well. His career wins are split evenly between five and six furlongs, even though his last five have come at seven. Sergeant Slipper is a course and distance winner, albeit in a claimer, that win coming in April. That was his first win over six furlongs and, if in the same sort of mood, could go well. Of the others, Royal Windmill has place claims from today's mark at best, although he has only won once in 34 starts to date, and Speedfit Free could be given a very good chance on his best form, but his latest offerings have been pretty poor. With Count Cougar possibly better over five furlongs, Befriend having made no real show on the all-weather yet, and the others looking to need improvement, for us the wheel spins back to Labelled With Love, who is the selection.
Feast of Romance 4-1fav Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Zorn at Southwell 6f stk (H5) std.
Labelled With Love 7-2jt-fav Keen, prominent on inside when stumbled just 2f out, rallied to chase winner 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 2nd of 12, hd behind Legal Set at Lingfield 6f hcp (F4) pol in Jan.
Count Cougar (USA) 16-1 Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 6l behind Shifty Night at Southwell 6f hcp (F4) fbs in Jan.
Vademecum 7-1 Slowly into stride, held up in rear, kept on but never dangerous, 7th of 12, 5l behind Crusoe at Southwell 6f hcp (F4) fbs in Jan.
Mutassem (FR) 9-1 Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace to over 1f out, 6th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Whinhill House at Lingfield 6f hcp (F4) pol in Jan.
Tosco (GER) 6-1 Started slowly, in rear, some late headway over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 8th of 12, 2 1/2l behind My Lilli at Lingfield 7f stk (H5) pol.
Sergeant Slipper 6-1 Slowly into stride, behind, 13th of 14, 12l behind Radlett Lady at Southwell 5f stk (H5) fbs in Jan.
Royal Windmill (IRE) 7-1 Steadied start, keen, always in rear, 12th of 13, 23l behind Penel at Southwell 6f sll (G4) fbs in Dec.
