chased leading pair, ridden, not quicken over 2f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
held up in 6th, not clear run, switched left over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, never reached leaders
soon led, set steady pace, quickened from 3f out, narrowly headed just inside final 2f, stayed challenging throughout final furlong, rallied near finish, just held
held up in 5th, headway on outside over 3f out, one pace when not much room 2f out, beaten soon after
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, struggling
soon tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon well outpaced
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, good headway on outside to challenge over 2f out, led just inside final 2f, kept on final furlong, held on near finish
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
DISHDASHA is preferred to Mixing and Sommersturm. Alison Thorpe's charge has progressed well on the level over the last couple of months and has been suited by Jamie Spencer's style of riding. He is 10lbs higher than when winning very easily on his latest Flat start and was well enough held over hurdles just over a fortnight ago but can get back on track here. Sommersturm needs to be monitored in the market for signs of confidence having dropped by 15lbs in the weights since his handicap bow but he'd be difficult to recommend without it as he has been well held. Imperial Harry is better than he showed last time, Wait For The Light has run some of his better races here, Filun has ability but isn't straightforward and a bigger danger may be Mixing who lacks a recent run but is rarely far away here and has the assistance of David Probert. Ready preference, though, is for Dishdasha.
Imperial Harry 7-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 24l behind Laurel Creek (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Dishdasha (IRE) 2-1 (9-1) Took keen hold, confidently ridden and held up last, headway on bit inside 2f out, pushed in to lead 1f out, soon clear, easily, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb beating Eseej (8-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Wait For The Light 5-1 (9-9) Led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 11, 13l behind Five Two (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Sommersturm (GER) 25-1 (9-5) Prominent, went 3rd 3f out, soon ridden, lost place, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 15l behind Eseej (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Just Observing 28-1 (8-8) Soon led, driven 3f out, soon headed and weakening when hampered over 2f out, 10th of 11, 12l behind Stand Guard (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Feb.
Lord Oroko 11-1 (8-9) Held up in mid-division, headway over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Double Banded (9-0) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Nov '07.
Filun 12-1 (9-11) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, riden to lead over 1f out, soon headed and no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Key Regard (8-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stk (5) pol in Feb.
Mixing 12-1 (8-9) Held up 3rd, ridden over 2f out, not quicken and weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 6l behind Epsom Salts (8-5) at Lingfield 1m 5f app hcp (5) pol in Nov.
