dwelt, held up in last place, effort on wide outside 2f out, never near leaders
held up, headway over 3f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway on outer over 4f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong
chased leader, led 4f out, until headed 3f out
in touch, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on approaching final furlong
keen, mid-division, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, soon clear, pushed out
raced wide in touch, led 3f out, until 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner 1f out, soon one pace
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 5f out
in rear, ridden over 3f out, never near leaders
always in rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression
Artzola is up 9lbs for his latest victory, however he has been given a mini-break since and could be up to going in again, at the main expense of the consistent Mon Petite Amour and Myrtle Bay. The selection has a tendency to find trouble in running, however his latest victory was truly emphatic and he could still be ahead of the handicapper. The drop in trip is not ideal, however he travels so well during his races so should be able to take this contest, assuming that it is not run at a crawl. Myrtle Bay ran well over course and distance last month and should have come on for that run so has place claims, whilst at a price Expected Bonus could go well. He will appreciate the step back up in trip and assuming he gets the gaps, he has place claims. The London Gang is hard to catch right; trying this trip for the first time, we must have doubts about his stamina. Mon Petite Amour shapes as if this step up in trip will suit, however he is not sure to get the trip on breeding so is passed over today. In a tricky opener, we will return to Artzola to go in again.
Artzola (IRE) 4-6fav (9-4) Steadied start, held up, smooth headway 3f out, led on bit 1f out, comfortably, won at Lingfield 1m 4f banded stk (7) pol in Dec beating Our Glenard (8-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
The London Gang 16-1 (9-5) Dwelt, headway over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Climate (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Jan.
Shadow Aspect 11-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, stayed on one pace from over 1f out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Italian Romance (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn stk (5) pol in Jan.
Myrtle Bay (IRE) 25-1 (8-6) Close up, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed and no extra, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Apache Fort (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Lady Pilot 15-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2f out, outpaced over 1f out, weakened quickly, 5th of 6, 13l behind Diamonds And Dust (9-13) at Lingfield 1m 5f clm (6) pol.
Mon Petite Amour 4-1fav (8-11) Behind, good headway on outer over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, gaining near finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Saucy (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
Expected Bonus (USA) 4-1fav (9-0) Held up behind, headway 2f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, always held, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Comeintothespace (9-0) at Kempton 1m Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Jan.
