tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong
with leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened quickly
held up, headway over 3f out, not much room over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, edged right and ran on
tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 3f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
behind, headway 3f out, not clear run 2f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong
always towards rear
slowly into stride, behind, effort over 4f out, soon weakened
mid-division, not much room over 6f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind, ridden and headway over 2f out, never dangerous
in touch, ridden over 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong
The shortlist contains War Owl, Efrhina, Stretton, Ocean Rock and Taxman, with the vote going War Owl. War Owl runs here under a penalty after winning over two furlongs further here last time. Given that he has won from what is, effectively, today's mark on Turf, he is entitled to go well. Stretton is ten pounds below a winning Turf mark of the last 12 months and can be fancied on that basis, although he has not really featured in two all-weather runs to date. Mi Odds is well-handicapped based on 2003 form, but his form has been lacking since midsummer. Up in trip, King Of Magic has some thing to prove, although his best previous run has come here. Efrhina now finds herself below a winning mark, and has won over 14 furlongs here, so is respected, while Newcorp Lad is reasonably weighted but is unproven at today's trip. Ocean Rock is a course and distance winner, though, and his mark of 55, for us, makes him one to consider too. Finally, Taxman, who has won over two miles but ran well over Southwell's 12 furlongs last time, is another that has to be given consideration. However, we will side with War Owl, now that he appears to have found his form again.
War Owl (USA) 5-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden to lead 2f out, edged right final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct beating Precious Mystery (9-2) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Petite Paramour (IRE) (9-6) Led to 2f out, soon beaten, 11th of 12, 13l behind Louise Rayner (9-6) at Pardubice 1m 6f stk gf in Oct.
Stretton (IRE) 20-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, behind, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 10, hd behind Tcherina (8-1) at York 1m 4f app hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Noble Mind 40-1 (9-4) Always behind, 15th of 16, 25l behind Pleasant (8-12) at Windsor 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jul.
Mi Odds 25-1 (9-10) Towards rear, ridden 5f out, weakened 3f out, 12th of 13, 46l behind Ellina (9-10) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
King of Music (USA) 16-1 (8-6) Keen, led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 12l behind Magic Amigo (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) hvy.
Protection Money 33-1 (9-8) Mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden and weakened, 14th of 15, 40l behind Compton Drake (8-10) at Musselburgh 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (E) gf in Nov '03.
Don Pasquale 66-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, always behind, 10th of 16, 29l behind Mineko (8-9) at Nottingham 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) sft in Oct.
Efrhina (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) In touch, headway 6f out, every chance over 2f out, ridden and not quicken, 8th of 13, 18l behind Ellina (9-10) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Newcorp Lad 16-1 (8-10) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 11th of 16, 7l behind Dium Mac (8-6) at Redcar 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Oct.
Ocean Rock 9-2 (9-4) Slowly into stride, held up well in rear, plenty to do over 2f out, ran on, never near leaders, 4th of 14, 7l behind Monte Cristo (9-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Taxman (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Woolstone Boy (8-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Oct.
