soon led, hard ridden from well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
held up, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, no headway final 2f
slowly into stride, in rear, never dangerous
held up behind leaders, ridden inside final furlong, no extra
led early, chased leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
Macademy Royal has been running well in sellers of late, has been given a chance by the handicapper and is taken to resume winning ways here, getting the vote ahead of Rann Na Cille and Nautical. The last mentioned, a selling winner over six furlongs here earlier this month found only the in-form Soba Jones too good at Southwell in another seller last time and Tony Carroll's 10-year-old has to be respected. Roger Fisher's Highland Song has shown gradual improvement in recent starts and should be thereabouts again, while Monashee Brave is hard to recommend on recent evidence. Rann Na Cille disappointed when last seen at Kempton in November but is better than that evidence suggests and he cannot be ruled out. Macademy Royal has solid claims on recent form though and he is preferred.
Monashee Brave (IRE) 22-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 11l behind Came Back (9-3) at Southwell 6f clm (6) fbs.
Nautical 5-2 (9-10) Tracked leading pair, ridden halfway, chased winner entering final furlong, not quicken near finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Soba Jones (9-10) at Southwell 6f sll (6) fbs.
Highland Song (IRE) 8-13fav (9-7) Always prominent, led halfway, ridden over 1f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Geordie Dancer (9-2) at W'hampton 5f sll (6) pol.
Jabraan (USA) 33-1 (8-2) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 9l behind Soba Jones (8-5) at Southwell 6f Clm Stakes (6) fbs.
Macademy Royal (USA) 5-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders and keen, led well over 2f out, hard ridden and headed 1f out, faded, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Mafaheem (9-13) at W'hampton 6f sll (6) pol in Jan.
Rann Na Cille (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, last of 12, 10l behind Brandywell Boy (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Nov.