held up in touch, headway chasing leaders 3f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner last 100 yards, lost 2nd final strides
slipped badly leaving stalls, pulled up and dismounted soon after
led 1f, soon settled in close 3rd, kept towards inside in straight, led 3f out, hung left on camber and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, eased
raced keenly, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in last pair, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up last, switched right to outside and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, nearest finish
soon steadied in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, steady headway over 2f out, switched right 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, led final 100 yards
tracked leader after 1f, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
led after 1f, brought majority of field off inside rail in straight, headed 3f out, led again over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied into 2nd final strides, not pace of winner
Andrew Balding has sent out two of the last three winners so Contango is worth a second glance back over 1m2f today. Dash Of Spice is another to note having won at Lingfield after finding AJMAN KING too good in a maiden race over track and trip in October and the latter followed that success with a handicap win at Doncaster. Roger Varian’s colt is also preferred to Dubai Horizon, who returns to action 12lb higher than when scoring at Newmarket in May last year. Thundering Blue is another course and distance winner and also beat Pacify at Sandown last term while Contrast went close in a tough contest at Kempton last month and is yet another to consider in a highly-competitive affair.
Another Touch 10-1 (9-0) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Zabeel Prince (9-0) at Doncaster 1m lst stks (1) sft in Mar.
Anythingtoday (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden and no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 3/4l behind Duke Of Bronte (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Contrast (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Close up, effort to press winner over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Crowned Eagle (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Dubai Horizon (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Keen with leader, led approaching 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Leshlaa (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in May.
Pacify 16-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Thundering Blue (8-8) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Thundering Blue (USA) 6-1fav (8-7) Raced far side, held up towards rear, headway and wandered over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 7th of 34, 3 1/2l behind Dolphin Vista (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Emenem 9-1 (9-0) Raced wide in touch, pushed along over 3f out, no impression, 9th of 13, 4 3/4l behind Crowned Eagle (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Ajman King (IRE) 13-8fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, clear entering final furlong, eased towards finish, comfortable, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Society Red (8-13) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Contango (IRE) 2-1fav (9-11) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Glenys The Menace (9-1) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Dash Of Spice 11-10fav (9-5) Led, headed over 8f out, tracked leader, led again 2f out, clear entering final furlong, pushed out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec beating Past Master (9-7) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
