in touch, ridden over 6f out, weakened 5f out
held up, improved to track leading pair 6f out, chased winner over 2f out going well, ridden over 1f out, found nil
close up, chased leader over 8f out, led approaching 3f out, soon ridden, driven and ran on final furlong
tracked leader, led over 8f out, ridden over 3f out, soon headed and weakened
hung right throughout, led, ridden and headed over 8f out, weakened 6f out
The strong-staying CURACAO was given lots to do at Sandown last time in a slowly-run race and with the step up in trip in his favour, he is preferred to the gutsy Amazing Blue Sky and Veiled. The last-named should make the market here as Sir Mark Prescott's progressive filly won nicely at Yarmouth last time and this daughter of Sadler's Wells is open to more improvement over this longer trip. However she will be a short price as a result and it may not be plain sailing as she attempts to win again. Preference then is for Curacao who takes after his dam's side of the family, as she herself is a half-sister to Persian Punch. Staying looks the name of the game for Amanda Perrett's gelding and he can take this race off his new mark of 80. Amazing Blue Sky is a gutsy front-runner who won't lie down and surrender; his stamina will surely be stretched too far here however as he steps up in trip by three-quarters of a mile. Dulcie caught the eye when she stayed on well at Newmarket last time on her first try at this trip; she has a pedigree that suggests she will continue to improve all season. Sally Forth also has the sort of pedigree that suggests we would not see the best of her until encountering a trip like this; her dam stayed well and she is a half-sister to Darkara who was a winner over 15 furlongs. An interesting handicap to get to grips with, but top-weight Curacao is fancied to bring home the bacon.
Curacao 11-2 (9-9) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression, until ran on strongly to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Ermyn Lodge (8-6) at Sandown 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Dulcie 14-1 (8-4) Slowly into stride in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 3rd post, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Perfect Shot (8-10) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd.
Sally Forth 20-1 (8-10) Tracked leader until 7f out, ridden and outpaced 4f out, 3rd of 6, 23l behind Manifest (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 4f mdn stks (4) gd.
Veiled 9-4 (9-1) Close up, ridden and lost place 3f out, switched right over 1f out, driven and headway soon after, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, won at Yarmouth 1m 6f mdn hcp 0-70 (5) gf beating Theola (8-8) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dark Oasis 25-1 (8-1) Dwelt, soon pulled hard in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 10th of 16, 10l behind Twist Again (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-60 (6) gd.
Amazing Blue Sky 9-1 (8-6) Soon led, made rest, hard ridden under pressure inside last, just held on, won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) gs beating Sequillo (9-0) by shd, 7 ran.
