slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway under pressure over 4f out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in touch, hard driven just after halfway, ridden and every chance over 1f out, hung left, weakened closing stages
held up mid-division, hard ridden over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, no extra final furlong
led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, soon hung left and no extra
tracked leaders, hard driven to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, soon hard ridden, ran on well
raced in rear, headway over 4f out, soon beaten
The track may not be ideal but PICKWICK looks the best of a trio that includes Surface Tension and Marywell. Sir Michael Stoute's colt ran too badly to be true at Kempton last time out and is better judged on a promising debut at Leicester. He should relish this ground and looks worth another chance. Surface Tension is another who disappointed at cramped odds last time out but he has been given a break since that Newmarket run and this Galileo colt is respected. As is the 87-rated Selkirk filly Marywell. Her Doncaster conqueror has gone on to good things since and she is another whose pedigree suggests she will cope with the ground today. It is hard to muster to much enthusiasm for anything else in the race, although if one of that trio flops then the final place might go to one of either Ahaazeeg or Aneel who can both improve on just modest debut efforts.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 40-1 (11-9) Reluctant to race, always well behind, hit 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Bradford Boris (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Mar, 10 ran.
Ahaazeeg 12-1 (9-3) Dwelt held up, ridden over 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, never a factor, 5th of 7, 14l behind Lunar Victory (9-3) at Goodwood 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gd.
Aneel 66-1 (9-3) Swerved badly left start, headway to mid-division over 8f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 20l behind Film Score (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gf in May.
Pickwick 3-1fav (9-3) Took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden along over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 30l behind Ferdoos (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (4) pol.
Raghdaan Haafhd gelding out of Inaaq.
Surface Tension (IRE) 7-4fav (9-3) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Centurio (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gf in Jun.
Marywell 5-4fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, headway going well to challenge 3f out, shaken up and every chance over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on until no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Miss Jean Brodie (8-12) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo fll stks (4) gf in Jun.
Millie Mops Where Or When filly out of Sheila's Secret.
Mexican Jay (USA) 12-1 (9-7) Pushed along leaving stalls and soon in touch, lost place over 6f out, no impression after, 6th of 15, 16l behind Fourth Generation (9-3) at Carlisle 1m 1f mdn stks (5) gd in Jul.
