tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden every chance over 1f out, kept on well
slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace
behind, never nearer
hampered start, always behind
led, headed halfway, every chance, hung left over 1f out, soon weakened, eased
slowly into stride, always detached
prominent, led halfway, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders over 3f
prominent, ridden, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
went left start, prominent, led over 1f out, headed, no extra inside final furlong
with leaders, ridden, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
There are plenty of course and distance winners in this tight affair, with our vote going to On The Trail ahead of Little Biscuit, Byo and Lady Pekan. On The Trail and Amanda's Lad have had some good battles here and, based on their meeting last time, it should be close again between them, so both are respected. Byo would hold a huge chance if running to his March form here, and his later Turf form. Mirasol Princess is generally better on Turf, while, you couldn't rule out Muktasb on his best Wolverhampton form. Zazous has mainly been running over further, while Little Biscuit would hold a big chance on course and distance winning form of a year ago, and she is potentially well treated. Lady Pekan won twice over course and distance from a two-pounds higher mark in 2005, so she cannot be ruled out, while Lizzie Rocket has a career-high mark to defy, and Largs is another to have proven himself competitive from around today's mark over course and distance. Hiamovi has the odd piece of form here, while Straffan remains well-weighted based on best Turf form, and bagged a win here last time. Blue Power is well-weighted on old form but is not quite so good these days despite some reasonable recent runs, and Boanerges won at Lingfield last time, but a five-pounds rise will test him. Overall, then, once again, the vote goes to On The Trail.
Amanda's Lad (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) In touch, headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead near finish, won at Southwell 5f banded stk (7) fbs beating On The Trail (8-13) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Byo (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, driven along over 2f out, hung right, eased over 1f out, 13th of 14, 14l behind Tag Team (9-3) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs in Dec.
Zazous 6-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Segoria (9-2) at Lingfield 6f banded stk (7) pol in Dec.
Largs 9-2jt-fav (8-12) Went right start, pushed along in rear, kept on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 14, 5l behind Miracle Ridge (8-13) at Southwell 5f banded stk (7) fbs.
Straffan (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Made all, ridden over 1f out, pushed out, won at Southwell 6f banded stk (7) fbs beating Jalouhar (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Blue Power (IRE) 13-8fav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden and edged left over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Henry Tun (8-11) at Southwell 5f sll (6) fbs.
Boanerges (IRE) 9-4fav (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 6f banded stk (7) pol in Dec beating Amber Nectar Two (8-11) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
On The Trail 7-1 (8-13) With leader, led over 1f out, headed 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Amanda's Lad (8-13) at Southwell 5f banded stk (7) fbs.
