held up behind leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong
chased leaders to halfway
towards rear, pushed along halfway, never on terms
held up behind leaders, driven over 2f out, ridden and no extra final furlong
mid-division, headway on inner 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed well over 2f out, stayed on until weakened final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and one pace final furlong
prominent, ridden 2f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on until headed close home
dwelt, always in rear division
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, driven to lead well over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on final f to lead close home
towards rear, never a factor
An interesting heat can go to Amorist, with Dispol Foxtrot and Augustine also getting good mentions. The Sir Mark Prescott-trained selection has to carry a six-pounds penalty for his second-successive course victory, which came last time out, and, whilst more will be needed today, it would be folly to rule him out. Balearic Star won from an eight-pounds higher rating on the Flat in 2004 and was seen staying on here last time, while Band is four-pounds below a Wolverhampton winning mark and holds place claims. Bridgewater Boys is well-weighted on 2004 Turf form and caught the eye staying on on this surface last time, while Simply The Great is back to the mark from which he won here in February 2004, although he'll have to put a few indifferent runs behind him to feature today. Craic Se Ceili has won from a higher mark in the past, while the lightly-raced Augustine must have been hard to assess based on his last two victories, but he could remain very well-weighted. Finally, Dispol Foxtrot carries a six-pounds penalty for a course and distance win but remains well-weighted based on Turf form. Bear her in mind, but the vote goes to Amorist.
Amorist (IRE) 13-8fav (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, driven to lead 2f out, ran on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m hcp (6) fbs beating Sriology (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Balearic Star (IRE) 6-1 (8-3) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Stevedore (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Cup of Love (USA) 10-1 (8-11) Close-up, ridden and led over 2f out until over 1f out, no extra, 6th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Captain Margaret (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
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.
Silver Visage (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Middle Eastern (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Witchcraft 11-4fav (8-9) Tracked leaders, driven along over 4f out, headway over 2f out on outer, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs in Nov beating Filey Buoy (8-12) by 6l, 14 ran.
Augustine 20-1 (8-9) Pulled hard in touch, ridden to lead narrowly 1f out, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol beating Hoh Bleu Dee (8-11) by a nk, 13 ran.
Dispol Foxtrot 5-4fav (8-6) With leader, led over 4f out, ridden clear 2f out, ran on, won at Southwell 1m stk (7) fbs beating Sea Frolic (8-11) by 2l, 11 ran.
