tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, headway on outer 2f out, soon ridden, led last 100 yards
held up towards rear, weakened 2f out, soon eased
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
held up and keen, weakened 2f out
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
Flying Clarets returns to the scene of her biggest victory in the John Smith's Cup but this posses a much different challenge on ground that she is not as effective on and in against horses with plenty of potential for improvement. Sugar Mint is given the vote on her first attempt over a trip that could well prove to be her optimum. She was unsuited by the slow pace at Sandown last time over a mile and did not appear to stay twelve furlongs in the Oaks but a re-production of her Cheshire Oaks run, in what was probably a below par renewal, would see her involved. She could be the value bet. Flying Clarets is one of the most improved handicappers in training and as a consequence connections are left with little options but to now step up in grade. Her style of victory in the John Smith's Cup marked the mare down as one who could hold her own in this grade. Cosmodrome put in her best ever effort last time at Warwick but that still leaves her with a bit to find while Soft Morning probably needed her first outing of the season and should strip fitter. Sugar Mint gets the vote to land it.
Soft Morning 7-1 (8-9) Broke well, led, headed briefly over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Hala Bek (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f stk (3) gs.
Flying Clarets (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Made virtually all, ridden clear 2f out, stayed on gamely final furlong, won at York 1m 2f hcap (2) hvy beating Eradicate (9-2) by 2l, 16 ran.
Sweet Lilly 25-1 (9-5) Pulled hard, mid-division, effort 3f out, edged right and beaten over 1f out, 8th of 9, 18l behind Anna Pavlova (9-8) at Haydock 1m 4f fll stk Grp 2 (1) sft.
Treat 10-3 (8-12) Tracked leader, weakened 2f out, soon eased, last of 9, 26l behind Kasumi (8-12) at Pontefract 1m lst fll stk (1) gd in Jun.
Makaaseb (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, stayed on steadily final furlong, nearest finish, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Rosaleen (8-12) at Sandown 1m 3yo lst fll (1) gf.
Miss Emma May (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Held up, keen, headway to go mid-division over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 9, 7l behind Topazes (8-10) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-95 (3) gd.
Sugar Mint (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Started very slowly, soon pushed along in rear, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 11, 2l behind Rosaleen (8-12) at Sandown 1m 3yo lst fll (1) gf.
Cosmodrome (USA) 9-2 (8-12) In touch, headway over 2f out, hard ridden and every chance inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind Ronaldsay (8-12) at Warwick 1m 3f lst fll stk (1) gf in Jun.
