made all, ridden from over 1f out, ran on final furlong
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on to take 3rd close home
in rear, ridden and weakened halfway
held up in touch, headway 2f out, soon chased winner, no impression final furlong
chased winner, ridden and hung left halfway, one pace from over 1f out
Nonrunner
The lightly raced SILK GALLERY is a speculative selection; Dark Tara, a surprise winner at Wolverhampton six days ago, and Efisio Princess also make appeal in a wide open little contest. Efisio Princess won here last November and seems to have taken a liking to the surface. However, she was well held off this mark last time out, so now has something to prove. By contrast Dark Tara was a 66/1 shot when she won a handicap last week, but was racing off a mark 20lb below her juvenile rating. It is highly unlikely, given the form of her yard; she will be even a fraction of those odds today; which may be a touch restrictive for a filly that needs to prove her effort was not just a flash in the pan. Therefore, a chance is taken on the unexposed Silk Gallery pulling something out of the hat. Time may tell that the form of her latest start (finished second to the 69-rated lemon N Sugar) is a reasonable gauge at this level, so this may be the time to side with Silk Gallery before the four-year-old goes on to better things.
Dark Tara 66-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating A Big Sky Brewing (8-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Efisio Princess 8-1 (8-12) Always towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, last of 12, 6l behind Musical Script (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Avoca Dancer (IRE) 17-2 (9-3) Held up in touch on outside, ridden along 4f out, chased leaders and effort over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 5l behind Joss Stick (8-12) at Lingfield 6f app hcp (6) pol.
City For Conquest (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Dwelt and hampered at start, always behind, 12th of 13, 12l behind Fyodor (9-9) at Southwell 5f clm (6) fbs in Dec.
Silk Gallery (USA) 12-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd entering final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Lemon N Sugar (9-10) at Southwell 6f mdn fll (5) fbs.
Martingrange Lass (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden halfway, soon driven and weakened, last of 12, 13l behind Vanatina (8-11) at Southwell 7f Stks (41-45) (7) fbs.
Milton of Campsie 18-1 (8-11) Steadied start, held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 6l behind Distinctly Game (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Mac Dalia 12-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden along halfway, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 14l behind Back In The Red (9-5) at Southwell 5f sll (6) fbs.