in touch, weakened quickly over 2f out, tailed off
held up mid-division, effort on outside over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent, chased leaders approaching final furlong, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden and along and headway 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
led, disputed lead 4f out, soon headed, weakened quickly 2f out, tailed off
always prominent, chased leaders into final furlong, ridden and every chance 1f out, weakened close home
held up rear, ridden and some headway over 1f out, soon weakened
keen, prominent, chased leader 6f out, with leader 4f out, led 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, caught on line
slowly into stride, in rear until headway on outside over 2f out, ridden well over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead on line
always towards rear
held up rear, ridden along over 1f out, never nearer
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong without being dangerous
First time cheek pieces and a longer trip may just be enough to help Dance Troupe get her nose in front here, with Sovereign Spirit, York Cliff and Ocean King others for the short list. The selection has been bridesmaid on her last four starts, the latest one at Southwell preceded by three in her native France. On all of those occasions she has looked as though further would be better, and she gets her chance to prove that here. She has to prove she handles the track, but if so the cheek pieces can help her to concentrate on getting it right. Sovereign Spirit is 4lb higher than when winning over course and distance last time, when it did not look as though there was a whole lot more to come. If he runs up to that form then he will surely go close again, though one has to question how much improvement there may be. York Cliff handles track and trip well and is not in bad form, though at these weights he just seems to find one or two too good, while Ocean King would have a better chance had the handicapper not taken a dim view of his run behind Sovereign Spirit last time and raised him 3lb for his pains. But Dance Troupe looks interesting on her first try on the track and we take a chance on her.
Bienheureux 7-2fav (9-4) Held up, headway over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Lady Taverner (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Ocean King (USA) 33-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden 2f out, chased winner final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Sovereign Spirit (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol.
Smoothie (IRE) 20-1 (9-5) Mid-division, steady headway over 5f out, one pace final 2f, 5th of 12, 6l behind Lady Taverner (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Lady Taverner 8-1 (8-8) Prominent, not clear run over 1f out, switched right, ran on, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Red Birr (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
York Cliff 6-4fav (9-4) Held up, headway 2f out, ridden, ran on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, nk behind Mungo Jerry (9-8) at W'hampton 1m 4f sll (6) pol.
Sovereign Spirit (IRE) 11-1 (8-8) In touch, ridden over 3f out, led 2f out, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol beating Ocean King (9-2) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Dance Troupe 6-5fav (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, hampered over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 10, nk behind Blue Opal (8-12) at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stk (5) fbs.
Zaffeu 8-1 (8-4) Behind, headway over 4f out, not clear run and lost place 3f out, headway and hung left 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Sovereign Spirit (8-8) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp (6) pol.
