tracked leader, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out, driven to assert inside final furlong
went right start, led, ridden and headed narrowly 2f out, every chance until inside final furlong
went right start, chased leading pair throughout, ridden halfway, no impression final 2f
hampered and squeezed out start, in rear, some headway 2f out, weakened 1f out
chased leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced halfway, driven and kept on final furlong
went left start, always in rear
Nonrunner
A distinct lack of feasible alternatives means BOOKIESINDEX GIRL is the default selection here from Taper Jean Girl and Bertie Buckle. Robert Winston's mount has been in good form of late, a statement which applies to none of her opponents, so despite some reservations as to whether she's quite up to this mark she should be good enough in this particular contest. The filly goes well here and remains unexposed, whilst the drop down to six furlongs shouldn't represent a problem. Taper Jean Girl beat our selection on her final start for Marco Botti but hasn't been in the same form since. That day she was in receipt of 3lb, so as she gets four today that should see the form repeated but a string of laboured efforts suggest this switch in yard has done her no favours at all. Her sole success did come here over seven furlongs and six shouldn't be a problem, so despite some questions as to her wellbeing we're prepared to put her in second ahead of Bertie Buckle. This gelding has shown little so far but is unexposed and may benefit for this switch to Fibresand, so it'll be interesting to see which way he goes in the market. Of the others, Holkham's best effort arguably came over this trip but that is clutching at straws as he looks poor, so of more interest is the similarly unexposed Sandy Toes who wasn't suited by the way the race panned out last time and remains capable of slightly better. Neither Island Express nor Last Of The Ravens make any sort of appeal on what we've seen so far and both would represent big shocks, so for our idea of the winner we return to Bookiesindex Girl.
Bookiesindex Girl (IRE) 11-10fav (9-0) Took keen hold, led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Feel The Magic (8-4) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Bertie Buckle (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 9l behind The Glamour Cat (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Taper Jean Girl (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) With winner until ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 13l behind Lord Victor (8-11) at Southwell 7f 2yo sell stks (6) fbs in Dec.
Holkham 40-1 (8-9) Tracked leader, lost place 3f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 25l behind Tuscan King (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo clm stks (6) pol.
Sandy Toes 22-1 (8-3) Chased leaders on outside, driven along 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 6l behind Duke Of Rainford (8-11) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (0-55) (6) pol.
Last Of The Ravens 80-1 (8-1) Soon outpaced, driven along halfway, tailed off, last of 4, 21l behind Miss Taken (7-7) at Southwell 7f 3yo clm stks (6) fbs.
Island Express (IRE) 100-1 (8-12) In rear, weakened over 2f out, last of 5, 47l behind Flying Statesman (9-3) at Ayr 6f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Jun.
