held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, ran on, just held
started very slowly, behind, headway over 4f out, chased leader over 2f out, hampered over 1f out, kept on same pace
made all, driven and challenged over 2f out, swerved right over 1f out, soon hard ridden, held on well
tracked winner, driven over 4f out, soon lost place
in touch, headway when hampered over 1f out, kept on well towards finish
held up towards rear, never on terms
tracked winner, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon faded
The handicapper hasn't taken any chances with Brooklands Bay so the claims of DANGER MULALLY are preferred to If I Were A Boy. John Weymes' charge made a pleasing debut when narrowly accounting for a horse rated 69 but the runner-up has been frustrating to follow and a literal reading of the form may have left Brooklands Bay on too high a mark even allowing for the possibility of improvement. David Probert gave If I Were A Boy a good front-running ride to open his account at the tenth time of asking. He's been raised by 3lbs but Lee Newnes takes over in the saddle to negate that rise and a reproduction of the more forceful tactics may see him build on his win. His pilot that day rides market rival Danger Mulally who was also given a prominent ride when taking the honours at Kempton. That form looks solid enough and a 2lb rise is certainly fair so he's fancied to take the spoils although he does have to prove himself at this circuit. Jazz Age needs a market check but Mary Helen is the other obvious contender but she has more on her plate back in handicap company and we'll take Danger Mulally to bowl them over.
Brooklands Bay (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Held up, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Oct beating Angelena Ballerina (8-5) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
If I Were A Boy (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Chased leader, led approaching 2f out, soon ridden clear, easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn fll stks (5) pol in Dec beating Al Shababiya (9-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Danger Mulally 20-1 (8-6) Held up in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, driven and stayed on to lead close home, won at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Nave (8-6) by shd, 7 ran.
Jazz Age (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Broke well, soon steadied, held up, headway over 1f out, not troubled leaders and no impression, 5th of 9, 10l behind Valid Reason (9-3) at Kempton 1m 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Mary Helen 6-1 (8-10) Switched left start, held up rear, headway over 2f out, led well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, unable to quicken, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Glen Lass (8-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo clm stks (5) pol in Dec.
Second Brook (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Pushed along in rear, headway over 1f out, never nearer, 4th of 10, 9l behind Wedding Dream (8-1) at Southwell 1m 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Dec.
A P Ling 100-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden when awkward on bend over 2f out, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 10l behind Lady Of Akita (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo mdn fll stks (5) pol in Dec.
