with leader, ridden to lead well over 1f out, headed last 50 yards, no extra
slowly into stride, behind and outpaced, stayed on final furlong
led for 1f, chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on to lead last 50 yards
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
led after 1f, ridden and headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch, behind from over 2f out
held up in touch, lost place after 2f, headway under pressure over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra last 50 yards
soon pushed along towards rear, never dangerous
A bunch of the usual suspects and Mill By The Stream is marginally preferred with Cool Tiger and Blythe Spirit appearing the most obvious dangers. Tom Dascombe's charge does drop in trip but has shown fair form over this distance before and can be expected to run well from a fair draw. Cool Tiger has had one or two problems with tardy starts in the past. That said, the banded stakes graduate, is potentially still open to improvement. Blythe Spirit is another who will be making ground late. He does not win often but should be troubling the places if consenting to put it all in. Lucius Verrus represents the Derek Shaw stable. The horse seemed to go well for Hayley Turner and the partnership is tried again. Bee Magic put up an improved effort last time out whilst Blakeshall Quest is fresh from a success in basement grade. Mill By The Stream is likely to be a fair price under the circumstances and receives the percentage call.
Blakeshall Quest 15-2 (9-2) Tracked leader, led 4f out, all out to hold on, gamely, won at Southwell 6f banded stk (7) fbs in Dec beating Nebdi (9-3) by a shd, 14 ran.
Cool Tiger 4-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Kempton 6f banded stk (7) pol in Dec beating Black Oval (9-1) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Hillbilly Cat (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 14, 11l behind Larky's Lob (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcap (6) fbs in Dec.
Mill By The Stream 8-1 (8-12) In touch, led over 2f out, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 11, nk behind Wodhill Be (8-6) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Bahrain Gold (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, weakened final 2f, 8th of 11, 19l behind Capital Lass (9-9) at Southwell 7f sll (6) fbs.
Bee Magic 50-1 (9-3) Behind, headway over 2f out, every chance from over 1f out, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Dixieland Boy (9-3) at Southwell 6f mdn stk (5) fbs.
Blythe Spirit 9-2 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Vlasta Weiner (11-0) at W'hampton 5f amt hcp (6) pol.
Axis Shield (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) In touch, driven over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 1/2l behind She's Our Beauty (8-7) at Southwell 5f banded stk (7) fbs in Nov.
Lucius Verrus (USA) 11-2 (8-6) Held up, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, headed well inside last, no extra, 2nd of 10, nk behind Val de Maal (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs.
Aboustar 11-2 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden along 2f out, not much room and switched right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 11, 4l behind Orchestration (8-12) at Southwell 5f banded stk (7) fbs in Dec.
