chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
made virually all, clear when shaken up inside final furlong, unchallenged
with winner, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, lost 2nd towards finish
chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, weakened final furlong
reared badly leaving stalls, welll in rear, passed one beaten rival final furlong, never able to recover
slowly into stride, well off the pace in 5th, pushed along before halfway, headway and switched left over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
This doesn't look the strongest of maidens but Balliol was slowly away when favourite on his debut at Bath and is preferred to the older My Major, runner-up at the same track in April. Royal Rettie showed promise when fourth over course and distance in August but hasn't been seen since. MILADY is by Shamardal out of a mare that won a Listed race over this trip and was also second in a Group 2. She wouldn't need to be anything special to make a winning start. Harrison Stickle can only improve on his third here last month and looks the pick of the remainder.
Compton Magic Compton Place gelding out of Phantasmagoria.
Balliol 7-4fav (9-2) Slowly into stride, mid-division, driven halfway, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Vale Of Paris (8-11) at Bath 5f mdn stks (5) gd.
Harrison Stickle 16-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, behind and outpaced, ridden 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Fast Dancer (9-5) at Windsor 5f mdn stks (5) gf in May.
Epping Forest (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Slowly away, always behind, 7th of 8, 13l behind Paint The Star (9-0) at Lingfield 6f mdn fll (5) pol.
Milady Shamardal filly out of Lady Grace.
Royal Rettie 66-1 (8-11) Mid-division, pushed along and stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 5l behind Aces (9-5) at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Aug.
My Major (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on closing stages, never reached winner, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Frostman (9-1) at Bath 6f mdn stks (5) fm in Apr.