tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed just over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
held up and behind, headway on inside 2f out, soon ridden, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
raced keenly, pressed leader until 6f out, remained prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
always prominent, went 2nd 6f out, shaken up to lead just over 1f out, ran on
slowly away, held up and behind, headway over 4f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, headway well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
Not a great contest to kick off the card and the fact that the seven runners have only managed one win between them in their last five starts combined says it all. As is it we will give the nod to Gifted Heir now he returns to this trip, with Ocean Pride looking next best. The Alan Bailey-trained selection was runner up over c&d in December in a seller and he is much better suited to this trip these days than the inadequate 7f he ran over here last time. Money for him would make him even more appealing. Official ratings has Ocean Pride well in front here, but David Pipe's gelding doesn't look much better than most of these, having been well beaten on his last two starts in this grade, so he is no good thing. Lady's Law was miles behind in third last time and you'd be hard pressed to back her, while Davidia looks a better proposition and he is at home over any sort of trip between a mile and 12f. He is opposable again though, as he remains a maiden after 24 starts and Zaafira should be able to confirm their November course form for Eddie Crieghton, but it may not be good enough to finish ahead of our token selection here, Gifted Heir.
Davidia (IRE) 13-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Kanisorn (9-8) at Southwell 1m 4f sll (6) fbs.
Ocean Pride (IRE) 17-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 7, 12l behind Mon Ami (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol.
Tidy (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 4f out, soon beaten, 10th of 11, 41l behind Karmest (8-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) fbs.
Zaafira (SPA) 14-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, lost place well over 1f out, 6th of 9, 10l behind Dushstorm (8-9) at Lingfield 1m sll (6) pol.
Gifted Heir (IRE) 7-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 7l behind Northern Desert (8-5) at W'hampton 7f sll (6) pol.
Welcome Cat (USA) 22-1 (9-2) Mid-division, headway 6f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened rapidly, soon tailed off, last of 12, 45l behind Young Scotton (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Dec.
Lady's Law 20-1 (8-8) In touch, led over 5f out, headed over 4f out, driven over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Wicked Daze (8-11) at Southwell 1m 3f app mdn (6) fbs.