keen hold in touch, led 1 mile out, with headed over 4f out, weakened over 2f
held up, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
ridden over 2f out, had every chance over 1f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong
held up, ridden along over 3f out, one pace until weakened final furlong
toward rear, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
led, headed after 1 mile and remained in touch, regained lead over 4f out, ridden and headed well over 1f out, rallied to regain lead inside final furlong, kept on
mid-division, pushed along over 6f out, soon beaten
This is a tricky race for punters to call to open the card but the leading lights appear to be Grasp, Khanjar, Miss Holly and Bienheureux and we will side with Miss Holly to lead them home. The selection was ridden by Kelly Harrison when she won well last time over this course and distance. She is a fairly straightforward ride which will help her jockey today and a reproduction of her latest effort should make her tough to beat. Grasp is an obvious danger on his return to the level as he has won in this grade before and if our selection fails to fire then he could be the one to profit. Khanjar is a nice horse but this trip should stretch his stamina to the limit today and we are happy to take him on. Bienheureux is in fair form and could feature for a place, but Miss Holly won in good style last time and is taken to do so again.
Bethanys Boy (IRE) 9-1 (9-13) Took keen hold in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon no impression, 7th of 12, 15l behind Share The Feeling (9-7) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Miss Holly 9-2 (8-13) Held up, headway over 2f out, led entering final furlong, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating Bulberry Hill (9-2) by 2l, 9 ran.
Stagecoach Emerald 13-2 (9-8) Prominent, led over 5f out, headed well over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Arsad (9-3) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Grasp 9-2 (9-4) Prominent, ridden to lead over 2f out, stayed on, driven out, won at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov beating Coppington Melody (8-6) by 2l, 13 ran.
Bienheureux 8-1 (9-8) Held up, headway over 3f out, lead over 2f out until over 1f out, faded, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Noble Minstrel (9-5) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Khanjar (USA) 4-1jt-fav (11-2) Started slowly, towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, not troubled winner, 2nd of 13, 3l behind Vanishing Dancer (11-1) at Kempton 1m 3f amt hcp (6) std.
Blue Hills 14-1 (9-3) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 4th of 9, 8l behind Miss Holly (8-13) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
College Rebel 20-1 (8-11) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened over 5f out, 10th of 13, 39l behind Ice And Fire (8-10) at W'hampton 2m 1f app hcp (6) pol in Jul.