tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on to gain upper hand final strides
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f
steadied start, held up in last place, ridden and headway on inside 3f out, went 3rd well over 1f out, no impression after
led, ridden over 2f out, headed final strides
held up, improved to go 3rd over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
raced wide in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
Duke Of Touraine is preferred to Hieroglyph and Henry James. Pat Haslam has his string in great order so the lack of a recent run is no cause for concern for this Linamix gelding. He made steady progress before losing his way but he produced a better effort when last in action in November suggesting that all is not lost. He should handle this surface and looks feasibly handicapped on his best form. Hieroglyph ran a little better last time but is beginning to look exposed and is vulnerable again today although she should run her race. Contessina has to put a poor run behind her but she may have pulled too hard last time and she did look promising when winning on her handicap bow. She was behind Henry James last time who was held up and never managed to get competitive. He's been dropped a few pounds as a result but with Marco Botti's stable going well he'd definitely be of interest if the market were to give out the right signals. The selection, though, is Duke Of Touraine.
Hieroglyph 9-4 (9-4) Held up in touch, effort over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Bookiebasher Babe (8-7) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp (5) fbs.
Duke of Touraine (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Mid-division, not clear run entering straight, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 2 1/2l behind Moment's Notice (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Contessina (IRE) 11-2 (8-9) Raced keenly, tracked winner to over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, last of 8, 11l behind Boomtown (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol.
Park Royal (UAE) 13-2 (9-4) Never going well in rear, kept on from over 1f out but never nearer, 9th of 11, 7l behind Flying Applause (8-12) at Lingfield 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Natural Rhythm (IRE) 5-2 (9-1) Close up, ridden 5f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 4, 20l behind Bookiebasher Babe (8-7) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp (5) fbs.
Henry James (IRE) 28-1 (9-1) Pulled hard, always in rear, never dangerous final 2f, 7th of 8, 10l behind Boomtown (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol.