soon led, ridden and headed approaching 3f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, lost touch over 2f out
in touch, chased leader 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong
towards rear, some late headway, never troubled leaders
towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten and eased
towards rear, headway 6f out to track leaders, ridden and weakened over 2f out
always in rear
towards rear, headway 3f out, kept on under pressure to chase leading pair final furlong
broke well, prominent, led approaching 3f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong
broke well and keen, raced prominently, ridden halfway, weakened over 4f out
held up, outpaced over 4f out, plugged on
held up in touch, weakened over 4f out
Shamrock Bay, Diktatorship and Squirtle look the three to concentrate on here and the vote is given to Shamrock Bay. The selection returns to the level after a spin over hurdles last time and she has shown enough on the flat recently to make her a leading player today. If she runs up to her best then she can get her head in front. She is dropped in trip slightly which should also play to her strengths. Diktatorship has been a little disappointing of late but he hinted at a retrun to form last time when he finished third behind Lord Laing here, and if he can build on that then he should make the frame. Squirtle finished behind Diktatorship last time but this slight strp-up in trip should suit, so he is another to enter calculations. Young Scotton has yet to win on the level and is probably best watched. All of which returns us to Shamrock Bay as the one to beat.
Diktatorship (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Lord Laing (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Princess of Aeneas (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always in rear, last of 13, 10l behind Golden Brown (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Young Scotton 14-1 (8-6) Held up, outpaced over 4f out, soon ridden, kept on from over 1f out, never trouble leaders, 4th of 8, 8l behind Hernando's Boy (9-7) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Squirtle (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden over 2f out one pace, 4th of 11, 6l behind Lord Laing (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Ice And Fire 80-1 (8-9) Always behind, eased over 1f out, tailed off, last of 15, well behind McQueen (9-0) at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gd in Oct.
Shamrock Bay 15-2 (8-10) In rear, headway over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Gaelic Roulette (8-8) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in May.
Cragganmore Creek 11-4fav (8-11) Held up and keen, some headway over 1f out, no impression, 5th of 11, 9l behind Lord Laing (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Sea Frolic (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Towards rear, headway over 3f out, driven and one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 6l behind Merrymaker (10-0) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Jenny Soba 28-1 (9-11) In touch, reminders over 4f out, soon beaten, 10th of 11, 26l behind Rickety Bridge (11-0) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol.
Bugsy's Boy 6-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway and driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 11, 6l behind Polyquest (8-12) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Bret Maverick (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Raced keenly, tracked winner until well over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 9l behind Gamesters Lady (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Centenary (IRE) 14-1 (8-10) Soon pushed along in rear, moderate late headway, 8th of 14, 7l behind Dinner Date (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Taran Tregarth 50-1 (8-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 12, 19l behind Veloso (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 4f sll (6) pol.
