tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, ridden and rallied entering final furlong, stayed on
raced wide keen, close up, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, wide and good headway 3f out, led 2f out, raced green inside final furlong, ran on, impressive
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up in rear, wide and headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace
in rear, pushed along 3f out, never on terms
in touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on one pace
led, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened inside final furlong
Withdrawn
Desert Crown, currently around 6/1 for the Derby, needs to win well to justify those odds though none of the 10 rivals he beat easily at Nottingham in November have won subsequently. Aidan O'Brien would have had plenty of options for this so Bluegrass can be expected to improve for his run at Leopardstown. EL BODEGON's victory over Stone Age in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud is the stand-out form in light of the latter's subsequent exploits. James Ferguson's charge has never raced on anything but testing ground so more rain would aid his cause but he looks the one to beat. Magisterial made all for an easy victory in a Leicester novices' contest but, like White Wolf who won a similar contest at Southwell, he'll need to step up a few gears.
Bluegrass (IRE) 11-2 (9-5) Soon led narrowly, headed after 3 1/2f, 2nd halfway, niggled along over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, dropped to 3rd over 1f out, no extra in 4th final 150 yards, 4th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Piz Badile (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Dark Moon Rising (IRE) 9-4 (9-2) Led until over 5f out, led 2f out, headed over 1f over, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Checkandchallenge (9-2) at Newcastle 1m lst stks (1) pol in Apr.
Desert Crown 11-1 (9-5) Held up behind leaders, pushed to press leader over 1f out, quickened clear under hands and heels final furlong, impressive, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Nov beating Schmilsson (9-5) by 5 1/2l, 11 ran.
El Bodegon (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) Led, clear 1f out, eased final furlong, won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 1 hvy in Oct beating Stone Age (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Kingmax (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) Close up, pushed along and unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Native Trail (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Magisterial (IRE) 9-4 (9-9) Made all, pushed along over 2f out, ran on, won at Leicester 1m 2f stks (5) gf in Apr beating Ruling Dynasty (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Royal Patronage (FR) 33-1 (9-0) Led in centre, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 15, 6 1/4l behind Coroebus (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Apr.
White Wolf (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, led close home, won at Southwell 1m stks (5) pol in Apr beating Bearaway (10-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Masekela (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Keen close up, headway 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Eydon (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 1f lst stks (1) gd in Apr.
