keen early, in touch in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
keen tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed towards finish
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led early, tracked leaders, chased leader 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
soon led, set steady pace, headed 4f out, soon lost place
close up, headway on outer to lead 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, soon weakened
BIRCH GROVE (NAP) is fancied to stay this extra distance having won with plenty to spare here in November. An apprentice’s allowance helps her cause now handicapping and she’s preferred to Sula Island. The latter has been hurdling since scoring on the Flat at Chepstow last summer while Vampish was narrowly beaten at Kempton recently giving plenty of weight away in maiden company and could also go well. Handicap debutante Tappity Tap is preferred to the more-exposed Folies Bergeres but French Riviera debuts for new connections having failed to win in six starts in France.
Birch Grove (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) In touch, chased leaders over 3f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Nov beating Lady Farhh (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
French Riviera (FR) (9-6) 3rd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Eleni (9-6) at Durtal 1m 2f mdn stks sft in Nov.
Sula Island 8-1 (11-12) Handy on inside, outpaced after 5th, brief rally 3 out, weakened next, last of 5, 31 3/4l behind Its All A Lark (11-3) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Vampish 5-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Moment Of Hope (8-7) at Kempton 1m 3f mdn fll stks (6) pol in Mar.
Tappity Tap 5-1 (10-0) Raced keenly, held up in 4th place, pushed along on outside and hung right over 2f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 6 1/4l behind Frisella (8-7) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f fll stks (4) pol in Mar.
Folies Bergeres 66-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Ebqaa (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol in Mar.