held up in touch, headway on bit over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear
tracked leaders, not much room approaching 2f out, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, soon led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
held up, headway 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on inside final furlong, took 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra when lost 2nd towards finish
in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out
towards rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
NAFURA won well over course and distance last month on only his fourth start and it is hard to oppose Saeed Bin Suroor's filly despite a 9lb rise in the weights for her earlier success and she gets the vote to follow up that victory with the main dangers rated as Duty And Destiny and House Red. The last mentioned won well on his handicap debut at Leicester last month when beating Power Of Dreams by half-a-length but a 7lb rise for that seems harsh for the Barry Hills-trained gelding and he may be best watched. Mick Channon's Anaya looks to be going the right way but seems plenty high enough in the weights for what he has achieved. If I Were A Boy seems held by the selection on running last time, while Willie Muir's Merchant Of Medici has harshly been raised 4lbs for his effort in a maiden auction race last time. Brian Meehan's Duty And Destiny is less exposed than most of these after just three starts and she has to be respected on her handicap debut but Nafura has an obvious chance of scoring again and is taken to do so.
Nafura 9-1 (8-8) Soon led, headed 7f out, tracked leader, ridden to lead well over 1f out, hung left, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct beating If I Were A Boy (9-3) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
If I Were A Boy (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Nafura (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Oct.
Merchant Of Medici 4-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken, 3rd of 4, hd behind Crunched (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Duty And Destiny (IRE) 7-4 (8-12) Led, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Exemplary (9-3) at Bath 1m 2f 2yo mdn (5) fm in Sep.
Pastello 7-1 (9-7) Mainly in rear, 13th of 14, 29l behind Rezwaan (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
House Red (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Leicester 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct beating Power Of Dreams (9-5) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Sounds Of Thunder 16-1 (9-5) Mainly in rear, 11th of 14, 21l behind Rezwaan (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Emma Dora (IRE) 12-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place halfway, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 8l behind Scottish Boogie (9-2) at Yarmouth 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Anaya 13-8fav (8-7) Led, headed well inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 4, ns behind Crunched (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
