in rear, ridden after 4f, never troubled leaders
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, driven to lead over 1f out, kept on
slowly into stride and always behind
tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, soon headed and one pace inside final furlong
mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, kept on final 2f
held up, headway over 4f out, driven and one pace final 2f
towards rear, ridden halfway, no impression final 2f
led, ridden and headed over 4f out, driven and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden halfway, soon well behind
chased leaders, behind final 3f
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
with leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra
always behind, tailed off
In a tricky little affair the preference is for LONGBOAT KEY but only just ahead of High Cross, Miss Keck and Sambulando. Mark Johnson's stable has been in excellent form this winter and Longboat Key has every chance of continuing that trend. He was well beaten last time at Kempton but the performance showed he'd be much better suited by a left handed track and a circuit were you can be very successful if allowed to set your own pace. Miss Keck has some decent enough look form in bumpers and should go well enough in this company. The major doubt for supporters of Alan Swinbank's runner is that this is his first attempt on this surface and there is nothing in his first four starts to suggest he will or won't act on it. Sambulando has some reasonable form in France but has had over 900 days away from racing which could be a problem. Sir Mark Prescott sends out High Cross who built on a solid debut with a better display here last time and more is expected again but will it be enough to beat the marginal selection Longboat Key? Probably not.
Keen Warrior 40-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, jumped right 7th, outpaced 5 out, 3rd and beaten when fell 4 out in race won by Lightning Strike (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft in Jan, 4 ran (N.Hunt).
Key Decision (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, not quicken, soon outpaced, 9th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Man of Gwent (8-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Mochua (IRE) 50-1 (9-13) Dwelt, always towards rear, eased final furlong, 13th of 16, 27l behind Shanghai Star (9-13) at Roscommon 1m 4f mdn stk gs in Sept.
Sambulando (FR) (9-2) In touch, kept on, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Elvard (9-2) at Compiegne 1m 4f 3yo stk in Jun '06.
Miss Keck 9-2 (10-11) Always towards rear, 7th of 13, 15l behind Hunters Belt (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m nhf (5) gs in Jan (N.Hunt).
Antipodean (UAE) 16-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 11l behind Echo Dancer (9-3) at Southwell 1m 3yo mdn (5) fbs in Jan.
Diktaram 50-1 (9-3) Prominent, steadied towards rear 7f out, always behind after, 10th of 11, 19l behind Bushveld (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Nov.
Longboat Key 2-7fav (8-6) Led, ridden 3f out, headed over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Clovis (9-13) at Kempton 1m 2f mdn stk (5) pol.
Spruzzo 200-1 (9-3) In rear, ridden over 2f out, soon struggling, 7th of 10, 14l behind Tinshu (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Jan.
Tagalura (IRE) 50-1 (9-3) In rear, soon outpaced, 11th of 12, 30l behind Danidh Dubai (8-12) at Haydock 6f 2yo mdn auc (5) gd in May.
Teddy West (IRE) 250-1 (9-0) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 15, 11l behind Jedi (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (4) hvy in Oct.
High Cross (IRE) 4-6fav (8-3) Led, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden, headed final furlong, one pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Miss Christophene (8-3) at Southwell 1m mdn stk (5) fbs.
Lady Dunhill (IRE) 15-8fav (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden 3f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Reigning In Rio (8-0) at Southwell 1m 3yo mdn hcp (6) fbs.
