chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
close up, led halfway, pressed from over 1f out, all out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
close up, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, lost touch halfway
led to halfway, chased winner after, pressed winner from over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, held near finish
slowly into stride, towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
behind, headway on wide outside from over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
slowly into stride, towards rear, never nearer
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 2f out
slowly away, always towards rear
From a good draw, Mandarin Spirit might be worth a shout here, with the main dangers suggested as Mister Clinton, Jazzy Millennium, Sacarratoo and Magic Amour. The selection catches the eye mainly because he is a course and distance winner - that win having come last June - from a seven-pound lower mark than today and, as we say, is well-drawn in stall one. With a number of his rivals not faring so well in that respect and, given the fact that he has been running fairly well of late, he looks worthy of the selection. Mister Clinton wins in his turn and is not far above a winning mark, although most of his successes have come at a mile, but Jazzy Millennium should handle this track ok and is only four pounds higher in the ratings than when scoring at Brighton last June. However, he has not fared too well with the draw. Icecap ran well over course and distance last September and a repeat of that effort could see him go well, although he too has not fared well with the draw and also looks held by Lady Mo on August Brighton form. Scarrattoo loves these switchback tracks and who has won over course and distance, is well-weighted on his 2002 form and has recent form enough to go well, and Cold Climate is also handily weighted on the best of his form and, despite most of his successes having come at six furlongs, has won over today's trip. Much as Silver Chime is back to a winning mark, he has yet to prove he stays seven furlongs, while Magic Amour comes here in good heart following a Warwick win over six furlongs on good to soft when fitted with a first-time visor. He could also go well but, for the winner, we return to Mandarin Spirit.
