chased leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out
held up in touch and keen, ridden to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied and every chance towards finish, just held
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened 1f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on under pressure, just held on
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, hung right 2f out, every approaching final furlong, kept on same pace
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
If Henry Cecil has learned anything in his long and brilliant career as a trainer it is not to ask his horses to do too much too soon and that maxim can prove to be a winning one in the 2008 renewal of the Dante where Twice Over is concerned. Describing the Observatory colt as "backward" last year, Cecil's runner was still good enough to win both his races, and the step up to 10 furlongs at Newbury was sufficiently impressive for Richard Hughes to say "He's as good as I've ridden in a while". Having put him away for the winter the master of Warren House gave him another speed test, when he showed great resolve to hold off Raven's Pass in the Craven, over a mile, and here the Derby favourite can benefit fully from that patient approach and make his final appearance before the big day at Epsom next month another winning one. On the form book Young Pretender and McCartney would be the most feared opponents here, but with Godolphin not yet firing they look best watched. Chief threat could therefore prove to be Centennial. John Gosden's colt won Sandown's Group 3 Classic Trial last time out, but there was nothing of the quality of Twice Over in that line-up and although he can undoutedly improve again, he is certainly going to need to if he is to do the business today. Tartan Bearer was the comfortable winner of a Leicester maiden last time and is tried on fast ground for the first time, but even Sir Michael Stoute would raise an eyebrow if this son of Spectrum would good enough now thrown in with this lot. Aidan O'Brien has won this with both Saratoga Springs and Septimus and he saddles Frozen Fire, who was readily thrashed in Group 1 company on only his second start back in October. He is ideally bred for this and if ready to do the job he'd have to be taken seriously, but Twice Over looks right out of the top drawer and can give Henry Cecil this leading Derby trial for the first time since the dawn of the 21st century.
Centennial (IRE) 11-8fav (9-0) Led after 1f, hard ridden final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Whistledownwind (9-0) by a nk, 9 ran.
Frozen Fire (GER) 5-1 (9-0) Behind, outpaced halfway, soon struggling, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 10l behind Ibn Khaldun (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
McCartney (GER) 15-2 (9-1) In touch, progress over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 8l behind New Approach (9-1) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Tartan Bearer (IRE) 2-5fav (8-10) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Leicester 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gs in Apr beating Warringah (8-10) by 3l, 15 ran.
Twice Over 9-4 (8-12) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, rallied to lead near finish, won at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr beating Raven's Pass (8-12) by a shd, 10 ran.
Young Pretender (FR) 50-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, 7th straight, kept on final 2f but never a factor, 5th of 8, 5l behind Rio de La Plata (9-0) at Longchamp 7f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
