led, hard ridden and headed inside final furlong, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders and kept on same pace
slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, hard ridden and kept on same pace
held up in rear, ridden and effort over 2f out, kept on same pace
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression
tracked leaders, always travelling well, led just inside final furlong, driven clear
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, not pace of winner
RIVER KIROV has been in the form of his life since switching to the artificial surface in October and he's taken to land a quick-fire two-timer with course specialist Musical Script the danger and Forest Dane not out of the picture. The selection narrowly missed out at Lingfield on his penultimate effort when finishing the best of them all after meeting trouble in running. He followed that up three days later with a comfortable victory at the same venue. That display suggested he'll be very hard to oppose here even under his six pound penalty. Musical Script has won four and placed in a further nine at this track from 18 starts and added the latest win last time out. He's only up three pounds for that, which he can over come, but it's the concession of 11lbs to River Kirov that's the worry. Forest Dane was just three parts of a length back from Musical Script last time and meets him on two pound better terms. However with his rival's profile reading a little better than his own that might not be enough to over turn that form. Resplendent Alpha has been consistent enough around here to be of note while top weight Fromsong isn't without chances but River Kirov looks the one to beat.
Fromsong (IRE) 25-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, under pressure over 2f out, soon no impression, 5th of 9, 7l behind Matsunosuke (9-4) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Dec.
Resplendent Alpha 7-1 (9-4) In rear, headway halfway, stayed on final furlong, not reached leaders, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Charles Parnell (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-80 (4) fbs in Dec.
Musical Script (USA) 5-2fav (9-4) In touch, ridden over 1f out, quickened and led inside final furlong, ran on well, asserter towards finish, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec beating Forest Dane (9-4) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Forest Dane 6-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to take 2nd post, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Musical Script (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Red Rudy 10-3 (8-11) Held up towards rear, ridden 3f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 11l behind Boundless Prospect (8-9) at Leicester 1m 2f clm (5) gd in Jun.
River Kirov (IRE) 9-4fav (9-1) Mid-division, took closer order over 1f out, strong run lead well inside final furlong, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec beating Bertie Southstreet (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Restless Genius (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Took keen hold behind leaders, ridden along over 3f, weakened over 1f, last of 7, 15l behind Silver Hotspur (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
