took keen hold, held up in mid-division, headway to chase leading pair under pressure 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd on post, not reach winner
slowly into stride, held up in rear, effort on wide outside, driven over 2f out, soon one pace, no impression
chased leaders on outer, driven along on wide outside, beaten over 2f out
held up in mid-division, hard driven towards outer over 2f out, soon beaten
pressed winner to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden to chase winner 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held when lost 2nd final stride
chased leaders, ridden, beaten over 2f out
held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, soon outpaced
made all, strongly pressed over 1f out, edged left under pressure inside final furlong, held on well
held up, pushed along 3f out, one pace, no real impression final 2f
slowly into stride, held up in rear, driven, headway over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, never quite able to challenge
Topazes heads our shortlist in this tight looking affair, from Glorious Gift and Border Owl. Topazes was a course and distance winner last month, and narrowly missed a four timer last time out. The colt has already beaten Amylee, and is still better weighted. Peter Chapple Hyam's Glorious Gift is a consistent type, and a distance winner at Nottingham, but may prefer a bit of cut in the ground, while Border Owl from the Hannon stable gets weight from the previously named and could be set to break his maiden. But for the most likely winner, in what will be a keenly contested affair, we go with Topazes.
Glorious Gift (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Yaddree (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (3) frm in May.
Irish Mayhem (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, soon no impression, 7th of 11, 7l behind Yaddree (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (3) frm in May.
Amylee (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 10, 5l behind Eastern Hills (8-11) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (4) gs.
Howdigo 33-1 (9-5) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, 6th of 8, 6l behind Mountain Pride (9-6) at Sandown 1m 3yo hcp (4) gd.
Dancer's Legacy 11-1 (8-12) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 8l behind Aromatherapy (9-1) at Great Leighs 1m 3yo hcp (4) pol in May.
Border Owl (IRE) 8-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reached leaders, 4th of 14, 2l behind Naughty Frida (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (4) pol.
Loyal Knight (IRE) 4-5fav (9-3) Led 6f out, shaken up from well over 1f out, soon edged left, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn auc (6) pol in Oct beating Safebreaker (9-3) by a hd, 10 ran.
Bauhaus Bourbon (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Held up mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn fll aut (6) pol in Dec beating Nice Wee Girl (9-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
Brave Hawk 8-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, one pace when carried right inside final furlong, 5th of 16, 6l behind Capucci (9-6) at Newbury 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd.
Rehabilitation 25-1 (9-5) Always behind, never dangerous final 2f, 10th of 16, 12l behind Capucci (9-6) at Newbury 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd.
Slip 11-2 (9-1) Held up in rear, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out, comfortably, won at Salisbury 1m 3yo app hcp (6) gd beating Miss Phoebe (9-1) by 3l, 14 ran.
Topazes 11-4fav (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, squeezed through when hanging right over 1f out, kept on to chase winner, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Eastern Hills (8-11) at Sandown 7f 3yo hcp (4) gs.
Hasty Retreat 8-15fav (9-8) Chased leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Avertis (9-10) at Yarmouth 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
