slowly into stride, mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, soon faded
always behind
pulled hard and led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, eased well inside final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, stayed on well towards finish
behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up, driven and headway over 2f out, stayed on under pressure to lead well inside final furlong, all out
held up in touch, headway over 2f out, effort and hung right inside final furlong, soon faded
held up, never dangerous
held up mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakening when short of room inside final furlong
held up, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on same pace
steadied start, held up, never a factor
chased leaders over 5f
led 1f, remained prominent, ridden to challenge 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Top Shot, Tamagin and Boldinor are the three for the shortlist here, and preference is for recent winner Top Shot to follow up under a penalty. Top weight Hearthstead Dancer is a course winner, and did have winning form last season, but carrying top weight and hailing from an out of form yard, he is passed over on his first run for six months. Tamagin comes here race fit, having won two of his last three starts on the all-weather, and his front running style will be suited to this sharp track. He is yet to win on the Turf but he is improving and is hard to assess. Walter Swinburn's Boldinor was a surprise winner at Wolverhampton on his debut and was beaten four lengths at Kempton last time. He is stepped up in trip here and is another who is difficult to be dogmatic about. After finishing unplaced on four starts on the all-weather, Top Shot won decisively on the Turf at Nottingham. Despite his previous mediocre efforts he was made favourite that day in a big field, and the handicapper wants to raise him another pound after today, even taking the six pound penalty into account. He is proven on Turf and his fitness is not in doubt so Top Shot gets the vote.
Hearthstead Dancer (USA) 12-1 (8-9) Mid-division, pushed along, outpaced over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Desert d'Argent (8-6) at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp 0-95 (2) hvy in Oct.
Tamagin (USA) 4-1 (8-10) Led at good pace, pushed along 3f out, strongly pressed and driven inside final furlong, held on gamely, all out, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (5) pol beating Kalankari (9-4) by a nk, 8 ran.
Bin Rahy (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Unruly at start, slowly into stride, never troubled leaders, 6th of 14, 11l behind Prince Charlemagne (7-11) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Methusaleh (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 36l behind Estiqraar (9-3) at Redcar 1m 1f 3yo mdn aut (5) sft in Mar.
Boldinor 7-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden and hung left over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 6, 4l behind Blushing Thief (8-10) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Rosthwaite (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Mid-division, effort over 3f out, no impression, 9th of 10, well behind Gracechurch (9-1) at Redcar 1m 2f 3yo hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Abbey Cat (IRE) 9-2fav (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Quince (8-12) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sept.
Ellesappelle 12-1 (9-1) Dwelt, held up in rear, headway 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Piano Player (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (5) std.
