in touch, ridden to go 2nd over 1f out, stayed on, not trouble winner
in touch, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, kept on final furlong
prominent, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
slowly into stride, behind, ridden and switched left 2f out, not much room over 1f out and inside final furlong, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
held up, headway over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden and hampered over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, led over 2f out, soon ridden and headed, weakened 1f out
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden out
behind, effort 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
Prince Samos gets the vote here with Sharp Reply and Eloquent Knight rating the main dangers. The selection won well last time out when beating Price Alharth and although he has a penalty for that win he won in the style of an improver and under similar conditions here he is taken to defy the handicapper. Sharp Reply rates the main danger on his best form of last season but he has yet to win over this trip, and the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 3.05 day absence. Eloquent Knight was a fair second behind the well handicapped Shaunas Vision last time and is another with place claims but he would not want the ground to dry out to much. Goodbye Mr Bond has conditions to suit and he could go well at a price but he usually needs a couple of runs before hitting top form. Of the remainder Active Asset is from a yard in top form and is another to note in the market but in a race where the betting will be very informative for the winner we are happy to side with Prince Samos.
Prince Samos (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Held up in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway between horses over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (4) gd beating River Alhaarth (9-1) by a nk, 15 ran.
Blue Sky Thinking (IRE) 66-1 (8-12) Behind, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final 2f, 10th of 16, 6l behind Kandidate (9-10) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Habanero 20-1 (9-4) Chased leader until ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 11l behind Newnham (7-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Sharp Reply (USA) 4-6fav (10-2) Led, headed 8f out, stayed prominent, led again over 3f out, ridden when headed 1f out, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Blackmail (9-7) at Brighton 1m 4f hcp (5) frm in Jun.
Goodbye Mr Bond 10-1 (8-7) Held up, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Zero Tolerance (9-7) at Newmarket 1m hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Eloquent Knight (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Led after 1f, joined from over 7f out, headed 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Shaunas Vision (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcap (5) pol.
Active Asset (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Held up, ridden 3f out, no impression, last of 9, 7l behind Dragon Slayer (8-10) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Mar.
Hawkit (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Held up, headway on outer over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 15, 2l behind Augustine (9-7) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
