held up mid-division, effort and headway over 1f out, hanging left but flat on
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, every chance well inside final furlong, no extra
held up rear, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway, ran on, just denied
prominent, led over 3f out, hard ridden when edged right inside final furlong, kept on
led, headed over 3f out, kept on one pace
steady start, no impression
held up mid-division, headway over 5f out, bumped and not clear run inside final furlong, not recover
keen in mid-division, not clear run over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up rear, never better
held up rear, headway over 2f out to chase leaders, one pace final furlong
prominent and keen, ridden and weakened over 3f out
prominent, ridden over 3f and weakened
Backlash ran well last time and gets the vote over Gem Bien, with Illustrious Duke, Tregenna and Granary Girl also worth a mention. Backlash was successful on Turf at Warwick last October and although not sighted on four previous starts on the all-weather, showed improved form when second to Tregenna over the course and distance last week. Although she had no answer to the winner's late burst, she is now three-pound better off at the weights for the two-and-a-half lengths that separated them and is fancied to gain revenge over that rival. The combination of a wind operation and blinkers have brought about improvement in Gem Bien, but his latest win was on the slower fibresand at Southwell, and in addition he is much worse off anyway with the runner-up, Illustrious Duke. Granary Girl ran really well here last time to finish second, but that was in selling company and she has that bit more to do. There are plenty in with chances, but we return to Backlash as the answer.
Gem Bien (USA) 7-1 Dwelt and towards rear, pushed along and headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on under strong pressure to lead final 50 yards, won at Southwell 7f stk (H5) fbs beating Illustrious Duke by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Backlash 9-2 In touch, ridden to lead 1f out, headed and not quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Tregenna at W'hampton 1m 1f app stk (H5) pol.
Comic Tales 11-1 Soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Al Awwam at W'hampton 6f stk (H5) pol.
Iamback 8-1 Soon outpaced and switched wide, stayed on from over 1f out, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 6l behind Kumakawa at Southwell 7f stk (H5) fbs in Feb.
Illustrious Duke 14-1 Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on until headed 50 yards from home, no extra close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Gem Bien at Southwell 7f stk (H5) fbs.
Tregenna 9-1 Slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 1f app stk (H5) pol beating Backlash by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Zahunda (IRE) 4-1 With leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Al Awwam at W'hampton 6f stk (H5) pol.
Granary Girl 40-1 Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ran on, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Glasson Lodge at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo sll (G4) pol.
