behind, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on no chance with winner
led 1f, remained prominent, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, soon keen and led after 1f, headed over 1f out, weakened
slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, hard ridden over 1f out, not paced to challenge
soon in touch, led over 1f out, soon clear evenly
mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
Sternlight is officially the best of those with ratings but that may not tell the full tale and we prefer the claims of BOY THE BELL. Jamie Osborne saddles two here but jockey bookings suggest Boy The Bell is his best hope. The son of Choisir has placed three times in maidens at this trip, including in a better race than this one at the track in November, so with those solid efforts to call upon he can gain due reward today from Sternlight. Ed McMahon's runner may be all the better for his recent return from an absence but he'll need to be as that effort was a rather laboured one. On paper he has plenty in hand here, but with doubts about both current form and this drop back to sprinting he doesn't look one to be taking too short a price about and our selection looks entirely more solid. The market may tell us more about the prospects of the other Osborne-trained runner Army Of Stars but, whilst he's well-related, his sales price dropped markedly and as a four-year-old making his debut he may well have proved difficult to train. Unless the market speaks positively of his chance, the best of the rest may be Sparking who ran well back from a break to take fourth last time. Ed McMahon's other runner Blades Harmony was disappointing on debut and will need to step up to figure and with newcomer Wirral Way not making obvious appeal we'll return to the solid profile of Boy The Bell.
Army of Stars (IRE) Kyllachy colt out of Land Army.
Wirral Way Kyllachy gelding out of Spicey.
Shirley High 40-1 (8-12) Chased leader until ridden and weakened well over 1f out, last of 9, 20l behind Brynfa Boy (9-3) at Wolverhampton 5f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Dec.
Blades Harmony 17-2 (9-3) Very slowly away, raced wide, in touch after 2f, ridden half way, no impression and weakened 2f out, 4th of 6, 20l behind Secretive (9-3) at Southwell 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Boy The Bell 85-40 (8-11) Pressed winner over 2f, soon ridden, stayed on same pace final furlong, retook 2nd post, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Master Leon (8-11) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs.
Sternlight (IRE) 9-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, soon ridden to challenge, weakening when not much room over 1f out, 6th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Lisahane Bog (9-0) at Wolverhampton 7f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Sparking 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, never dangerous, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Wellmarked (9-3) at Wolverhampton 6f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
