held up in touch, ridden and not much room over 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, no danger
led, hard ridden and kept on final furlong, narrowly headed final 50 yards, ran on
held up in rear, jumped path 5f out, moderate effort on inside 2f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, soon recovered and in touch on outside, headway over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead final 50 yards, caught last stride
in touch, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, hard ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders over 5f
chased leader, weakened 2f out
behind, pushed along on outside halfway, never a factor
took keen hold, tracked leaders, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched right, ran on under pressure final furlong to lead stride
The Masaka Stakes signals the start of the new turf flat racing season and narrow preference is for Richard Hannon's Baltic Dip, who gets the vote ahead of the Channon pair Joint Aspiration and Umniya. The selection failed to trouble the judge in three starts after making a winning debut at Goodwood in May but should improve for the step up to a mile and makes more appeal at the odds than Joint Aspiration. The last mentioned is officially best in at the weights according to BHB ratings following wins at Salisbury and Kempton last term before a fair effort in defeat in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot. She has to be respected and makes more appeal than Peter Chapple-Hyam's Heat Of The Night, who comes here in form from the all-weather but may not appreciate the rain-softened ground. The Michael Jarvis-trained Vista Bella has more to do than when making a winning debut at Lingfield last month and of more interest may be Umniya. Mick Channon's filly is more exposed than most of these but holds solid claims on the pick of her form and cannot be discounted lightly. Baltic Dip is unexposed though and she gets the vote to win the opening race of the season.
Baltic Dip (IRE) 7-1 Made most until ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on, 4th of 14, 3l behind Penkenna Princess at Newmarket 7f 2yo lst fll (A1) gd in Oct.
Borthwick Girl (IRE) 13-2 Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Squaw Dance at Newmarket 1m 2yo lst stk (A1) gs in Oct.
Heat of The Night 9-4 Always prominent, led 2f out, ridden clear 1f out, ran on well, won at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (D2) pol in Feb beating Royal Wedding by 5l, 7 ran.
Joint Aspiration 20-1 Dwelt, soon close up, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 9, 4l behind Playful Act at Ascot 1m 2yo fll Grp 1 (A1) gf in Sept.
Justaquestion 66-1 Towards rear, never nearer, 8th of 11, 9l behind Party Boss at Lingfield 7f 3yo lst stk (A1) pol.
Little Miss Gracie 14-1 In touch, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 8l behind Comic Strip at Pontefract 1m 2yo lst stk (A1) gd in Oct.
Musical Day 7-2 Held up, smooth headway to track leaders 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on under pressure final furlong, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn aut (E3) pol in Oct beating Limit by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Nice Tune 16-1 Chased leader until inside 2f, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 8l behind Bibury Flyer at Newbury 7f 2yo lst fll (A1) sft in Oct.
Umniya (IRE) last of 8, 13l behind Helios Quercus at Saint-Cloud 1m Grp 1 sft in Oct.
Vista Bella 7-1 Slowly into stride, raced wide, towards rear, rapid headway 3f out on outer, led just over 2f out, clear over 1f out, pushed out, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (D3) pol in Feb beating Mogaamer by 1/2l, 14 ran.
