chased leaders to halfway
broke well, lost place after 2f, soon behind
in rear, ridden 3 out, no impression
prominent and keen hold, ridden and weakened 2f out
in rear and running green, some late headway
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, fading when edging right and headed inside final furlong
in touch and keen, one pace from 2f out
slowly into stride, outpaced, brief effort 3f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out
outpaced, always behind
led early, stayed prominent, one pace final furlong
Ransom Strip may well make a winning debut, with Rebellious Spirit, Canina and Kings Cavalier other major players. This is only a moderate contest, and as the other leading lights have all found it difficult to lose their respective maiden tags so far, it would be no surprise if Ransom Strip were to prove up to the task at the first time of asking. Mark Johnston's charge has been gelded, having failed to make it to the track as a juvenile, and this half-brother to the fairly useful Hiddnah will hopefully have inherited his ability to act on the all-weather. Rebellious Spirit does act on this type of surface, having been runner-up both here and at Lingfield three months ago. His absence is a worry though, and a bigger danger may well be Canina who gets on well with Eddie Ahern. However, she will be of more interest when stepped up to seven furlongs, while Kings Cavalier has his first outing for Ian McInnes after finishing second in a Lingfield seller recently. The vote goes to Ransom Strip.
Grammaticus 25-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, soon beaten, last of 11, 39l behind Salute The General (8-9) at Southwell 1m 2yo mdn aut (6) fbs in Dec.
Kings Cavalier (USA) 7-2 (8-12) Dwelt, recovered to dispute lead to halfway, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Diktalex (8-2) at Lingfield 6f 3yo sll (6) pol in Jan.
Noble Minstrel 50-1 (9-0) Held up, raced wide, headway final furlong, never near leaders, 7th of 12, 4l behind Foreplay (8-9) at W'hampton 6f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Dec.
Phinerine 9-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 3l behind Radiator Rooney (9-0) at Lingfield 5f 3yo mdn (5) pol.
Ransom Strip (USA) Red Ransom colt, full-brother to winning miler Truely Ruby; half-brother to 7f winner Hiddnah.
Rebellious Spirit 4-1 (9-0) Led, ridden clear 1f out, driven and caught on line, 2nd of 11, hd behind Easy Air (9-0) at Lingfield 6f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Nov.
Canina 9-1 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on close home, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Grenane (9-4) at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Miss Lopez (IRE) 25-1 (8-3) In touch, keen, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 14l behind Chief Commander (8-8) at W'hampton 7f mdn stk (5) pol in Jan.
