slowly into stride, settled in rear, headway on outer well over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd final furlong, not reached leaders
pressed leader to just over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened
close up on outside, ridden and effort 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened
in touch on inside, ridden 2f out, never reach challenging position, never dangerous from over 1f out
dwelt, held up in touch, ridden to chase leader 1f out, stayed on under pressure to lead final strides
led narrowly, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders on inner, quicken to lead over 1f out, soon ridden and hung badly right 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, caught final strides
A good start to the card and one where AEROPLANE gets the nod ahead of Al Muheer and Philario. The selection races over his optimum trip and comes here in good form, and from a yard that is going well, that of Simon Callaghan. He won at Lingfield and Kempton at the turn of the year and after an abortive return to 6f, he once again gave his running when just beaten last time over today's course and distance. He is no certainty in an open race, but he is almost certain to give his running and we hope that will be good enough. Al Muheer won last time over a mile at Lingfield, when blinkered for the first time, and if the headgear again has the desired effect he should be thereabouts. Philario drops back in trip having run well twice over a mile, and he looks likely to be on the premises if handling this track on his first visit. Beckermet and Ceremonial Jade are both better over shorter than this, while Bonus is admirably consistent and is equally at home over six or seven furlongs and at these weights he has a big chance. Aeroplane is taken to score.
Aeroplane 8-11fav (9-0) Held up, headway on inside 2f out, every chance, not quicken well inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Orchard Supreme (9-5) at W'hampton 7f stk (2) pol in Jan.
Beckermet (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Led for 2f, prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, 12l behind Intrepid Jack (9-3) at Newbury 6f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jul.
Benandonner (USA) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Bolodenka (9-1) at Ayr 1m hcap (2) hvy in Sept.
Bonus (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Held up in rear, improved to go 4th 2f out, soon ridden, kept on, not pace to challenge, 4th of 6, 2l behind Al Muheer (9-0) at Lingfield 1m stk (3) pol in Feb.
Ceremonial Jade (UAE) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 3l behind Matsunosuke (9-0) at Lingfield 6f lst stk (1) pol in Feb.
Philario (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 1f out, held inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Premio Loco (9-0) at Kempton 1m lst stk (1) pol in Feb.
Vitznau (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Behind, headway over 2f out, bumped over 1f out, not quicken, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Kalahari Gold (9-1) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-105 (2) sft in Aug.
Al Muheer (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Made all, shaken and clear 1f out, stayed on, won at Lingfield 1m stk (3) pol in Feb beating Whistledownwind (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
