slowly into stride, soon mid-division, beaten halfway
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 3f out, hampered and not much room final furlong, all out to lead close home
mid-division, ridden halfway, soon behind
made most, ridden 3f out, weakening when headed close home
mid-division, ridden 4f out, no impression
always rear
slowly into stride, behind from halfway
towards rear, ridden 4f out, some late progress
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden 4f out, soon lost place
prominent, chased leader 3f out, all out and edging left final furlong and fading
Ustad, Constructor and Lord of Dreams are the three for the shortlist here and preference is for the experienced Ustad. Charlie Cyzer¿s Constructor has shown glimmers of ability at trips from six furlongs to a mile and a half and was a good third last time, just getting run out of it in the closing stages. Constructor will have few better chances of losing his maiden tag than this and can go close. Lord of Dreams¿ form figures don¿t look inspiring but he has been keeping better company than this. He ran well until the furlong pole at Pontefract two outings ago, beaten only three lengths in a decent handicap and is another who will be thereabouts. Ustad is a son of Giants Causeway and has been campaigned at the top tracks and over longer distances. He has shown enough ability to suggest he can take this, and his breeding suggests the trip will not be a problem. Ustad can lead them home.
Constructor 25-1 (9-3) Started slowly, soon in mid-division, ridden to lead narrowly 1f out, soon headed, kept on, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Vienna's Boy (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Oh Danny Boy 50-1 (9-5) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Princelet (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd in Oct.
Arpetcheeo (USA) 7-1 (9-2) Chased leaders in 6th, improved into 4th entering straight, no extra and weakened from 2f out, 14th of 18, 39l behind Almighty (9-2) at Navan 1m 2yo mdn sft in Oct '04.
Drumroll (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Raced wide, held up, effort on outer 3f out, weakened and hung left inside final 2f, 8th of 12, 10l behind Avanti Avanti (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn aut (E4) pol in Jan.
Lord of Dreams (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Raced centre, overall leader 3f, ridden and weakened 2f out, 11th of 17, 17l behind Davenport (8-13) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
Hilversum Polar Falcon filly, half-sister to Flat and hurdles winner Winged Angel.
Miss Inch 7-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 6l behind Simply Sunshine (8-11) at Newbury 7f 3yo mdn fll (5) gs in Apr.
Rock Chick 7-2 (8-9) Led after 1f, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Celtique (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol in Oct.