held up mid-division and keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led 1f, tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
tracked leader and keen, ridden over 1f out and every chance, no extra inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on
held up towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway over 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
dwelt, held up behind, headway on inner over 2f out, led entering final furlong, edged left and kept on
tracked leaders and keen on outer, ridden over 1f out, faded entering final furlong
led after 1f, soon slowed pace, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
PIANO is looking progressive and having won on handicap debut can improve again and follow up. John Gosden's runner needed every yard of a slightly shorter trip to get up and score so with more sand to cover this time that should help with the expected improvement. Fantastic Strike was a facile winner over a similar trip here last time and under just 6lb extra should run a big race while Magician's Cape could be anything after just two encouraging starts. Akhmatova keeps running well in defeat but is up in the weights again so Piano can continue to progress.
Magician's Cape (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Tracked leading pair, raced wide until over 5f out, pushed along over 3f out, not quicken 2f out, no extra over 1f out, last of 3, 3 1/2l behind Fareej (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2yo nov stks (4) pol in Oct '09.
Whistleinthewind (IRE) 5-4fav (9-6) Bumped and driven start, made virtually all, driven clear inside final 2f, driven out, unchallenged, won at Kempton 1m 2f clm stks (6) pol beating Officer In Command (9-8) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Captain John Nixon 4-1 (8-12) Chased leader until 8f out, remained handy until weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 11l behind Spirit Is Needed (10-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp 0-90 (3) gf in Jul.
Akhmatova 7-2fav (9-6) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on and always held by winner, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Robust Wish (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Cosimo De Medici 33-1 (8-9) Pushed along 4f out, always behind, 14th of 16, 23l behind Conduct (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Sep.
Lyric Poet (USA) 4-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed entering final furlong, lost 2nd final 150 yards, weakened to 4th final 50 yards, 4th of 14, 2l behind Home Advantage (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sep.
Kalypso King (USA) 50-1 (9-4) Awkward start, always in rear, last of 16, 13l behind Sarah Park (9-2) at Goodwood 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Piano 2-1fav (9-4) Dwelt, held up, switched right and headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead post, won at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating Trailblazing (9-7) by nk, 13 ran.
Fantastic Strike (IRE) 8-1 (8-7) Dwelt, held up last, headway on outside 7f out, went 2nd halfway, led over 2f out, ridden and pressed until stayed on to assert inside final furlong, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Deauville Post (9-1) by 4l, 6 ran.
Formulation (IRE) 5-2 (9-1) Towards rear, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 10, 5l behind Maristar (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
