mid-division until 4f out, soon behind
held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden in close 5th entering final furlong, faded final 50 yards
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, kept on
held up behind, steady progress from over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, squeezed through gap and stayed on strongly to lead final 40 yards
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, effort over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, held when not clear run over 1f out
held up towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, kept on
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, edged right and weakened 1f out
led until 3f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong
prominent, ridden and every chance from over 2f out, faded final 50 yards
Candle has plenty in her favour in a competitive race and is selected. Likely dangers include Show Winner and Tears Of A Clown. The likes of Climate Change, Daltaban and Kayak all have something to prove but all are of interest whilst cases can be made for Formax, Akarem, Ainama, Rudry Dragon and Mikao. Tears Of A Clown appeared to be a horse to follow after his first two starts of last year but things went awry from then and he was ultimately disappointing. He still has time on his side though and he may well be able to resume his progression through the ranks this season; he makes a good bit of appeal. Show Winner has to race from just out of the handicap but he has a progressive profile and only narrowly lost out last time. He needs to take another step forwards to win this but may well do so and his style of racing should suit this track. Candle has a disappointing strike rate for one of her ability but twelve furlongs on soft ground would appear to be her optimum conditions and her return on unsuitably fast ground at Newmarket last week should have brought her on. She's only 6lbs higher than when winning over course and distance, is bred to get better with age whilst Henry Candy is enjoying a fine season which adds to our confidence that Candle can light up our afternoon.
Daltaban (FR) (9-2) In touch, led 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Chantilly 1m 2f 3yo c&g stk in Jun beating Western Sky (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tears of A Clown (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 16, 11l behind Cabinet (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Apr.
Candle 16-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 24l behind Punjabi (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcap (3) gf.
Akarem 12-1 (9-5) Tracked leader to 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Dansant (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stk (1) pol in Dec.
Formax (FR) 7-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Orchard Supreme (9-2) at Goodwood 1m hcap (4) gd.
Mikao (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Close up, chased leader over 6f out to over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 34l behind Punjabi (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcap (3) gf.
Climate Change (USA) 4-1 (8-11) Led 2f, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Kerashan (9-0) at Leicester 1m 4f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Oct '05.
Rudry Dragon (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (9-1) Took keen hold, held up, headway over 1f out, driven and kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Snowed Under (8-10) at Beverley 1m 1f hcap (4) gd.
Ainama (IRE) 2-1fav (9-1) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, eased final furlong, 8th of 12, 16l behind Birkside (9-1) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Birkspiel (GER) 33-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, raced in last place, ridden over 3f out soon weakened, 7th of 8, 14l behind Art Man (9-0) at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Show Winner 16-1 (9-2) Held up in touch, led over 2f out, hard driven final furlong, no extra towards finish and caught on line, 2nd of 16, shd behind Mae Cigan (8-8) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gd.
Kayak (SAF) (9-4) Prominent, every chance, stayed on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Skywards (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m hcp gf in Mar.
