held up in rear, kept on final furlong
chased leaders on outer, led 2f out, pushed 2 lengths clear over 1f out, hard ridden final furlong, tired and caught towards finish
took keen hold, held up in rear, brief effort on outer over 2f out, soon beaten
chased leaders on outer, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
keen hold, held up in rear, headway on inside rail over 1f out, chased leader final furlong, ran on under pressure to lead near finish
steadied rear, ridden and struggling halfway, always behind
dwelt, soon recovered to chase leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led until 2f out, soon weakened
took keen hold in touch, effort on outer over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
raced keenly, chased leader to 2f out, weakened quickly
in touch, hampered over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, not clear run briefly 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
A competitive finale can go the way of Matuza, with Bajan Parkes, Didn't We, Pearly Wey and Burning Incense just a few more with claims. This is no easy getting out stakes, but William Muir has been quite bullish in his regard for Matuza, and he is taken to keep his unbeaten record intact. The son of Cadeaux Genereux was confined to all-weather late last year, winning both starts, but was put away as the trainer believes that he is too good to rush. He was quite an expensive purchase at 200,000 euros, and is fully expected to repay a lot of that on Turf this summer. Bajan Parkes looked a real nippy sort when making a winning debut at Bath last September and could be sprinter to follow, but the testing conditions may be a problem. Didn't We had the measure of Burning Incense when they met at Lingfield recently, but the latter is weighted to turn the tables, while Pearly Wey has shown good form on fast ground but has to give plenty of weight to the selection, which is Matuza.
The Snatcher (IRE) 10-3 (8-13) Led, headed 3f out, ridden over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Collateral Damage (8-4) at York 7f 3yo hcp (3) sft.
Pearly Wey 6-1 (8-3) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Bentong (8-1) at Salisbury 6f 3yo hcp (2) frm.
Figaro Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Towards rear, not much room after 1f out, ridden, headway over 1f out, every chance well inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 10, nk behind Ooh Aah Camara (8-8) at Chester 6f 3yo hcp (3) gf.
Puskas (IRE) 17-2 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 17l behind Hogmaneigh (8-11) at Nottingham 6f 3yo hcp (3) sft.
Trafalgar Bay (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Led to start, mid-division, out paced over 3f out, switched left over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Bentong (8-1) at Salisbury 6f 3yo hcp (2) frm.
Scarlet Knight 10-1 (9-4) Held up, ridden and effort over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 7, 9l behind Days of My Life (8-7) at Goodwood 7f 3yo hcp (4).
Bajan Parkes 3-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway to lead over 1f out, ran on well, easily, won at Bath 6f 2yo mdn (5) frm in Sept beating Chia (8-9) by 4l, 11 ran.
Didn't We (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Made all, clear over 1f out, kept on well, comfortably, won at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd beating Burning Incense (9-0) by 2l, 11 ran.
Matuza (IRE) 10-11fav (9-5) In touch, effort to lead approaching final furlong, easily, won at Southwell 5f nov stk (5) fbs in Dec beating Eeshee (8-7) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Tous Les Deux 4-1 (9-4) Always prominent, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Garstang (8-12) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol.
Starlight Gazer 7-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, led inside final 2f, hung badly left to far side final furlong, driven out, won at Windsor 6f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) gs beating Fleeting Passion (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Burning Incense (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Didn't We (9-3) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd.
