chased leaders, ridden 2f out, led well inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on
raced wide, mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, led entering final furlong, headed well inside final furlong, kept on
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, kept on nearest finish
slowly into stride, took keen hold in rear, headway when short of room approaching 2f out, switched right over 1f out, driven and ran on to lead towards finish
led over 4f, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, in rear, short lived effort on outer 2f out
keen, tracked leader, ridden and led over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra
mid-division, lost place over 2f out, not a danger after
prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, hampered and dropped to rear 2f out, soon ridden, headway and effort inside final furlong, edged left under pressure towards finish
Strut The Stage has yet to get her head in front after 23 attempts but she is a speculative choice to land this with Double Valentine and Jessica Wigmo nominated for the placings. Out of the former high class performer Eva Luna, Strut The Stage will never reach the heights of her dam but a third placing behind the progressive Safari Sundowner in January indicated that a success may not be far away. The latter won that contest off 57 and has since won off 75 and with our selection just 2l behind, she is overdue a win. She doesn't appear ungenuine and but it was disappointing to see her find one too good once again last time after that previously mentioned effort. However, we will stick by her and give her one final chance to get that belated first success. Double Valentine has been in fine form throughout the winter and is only 4lb higher for a comfortable success in mid February. This will be tougher though while Jessica Wigmo is another recent winner who has more on her plate today. Strut The Stage is purely a speculative choice here in what is an open contest.
Metropolitan Chief 12-1 (9-1) Keen in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression, 11th of 14, 12l behind Contented (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Zazous 17-2 (8-8) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon one pace, 5th of 8, 3/4l behind Musical Script (8-10) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Double Valentine 6-1 (8-6) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, quickened to lead near finish, won at Lingfield 7f hcap (6) pol in Feb beating The Jailer (8-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Napoletano (GER) 10-1 (8-13) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway on inner well over 1f out, no extra and one pace final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Joy And Pain (9-3) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Compulsion 8-1 (8-12) Mid-division, short of room and lost place after 3f, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Contented (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Jessica Wigmo 9-1 (8-5) Behind, headway over 2f out, stayed on steadily to press leader inside final furlong, led towards finish, driven out, won at Kempton 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Feb beating Sion Hill (8-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Strut The Stage (IRE) 6-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, ran on, 2nd of 11, nk behind Guadaloup (8-8) at W'hampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Balerno 11-4fav (8-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders 2f out, no impression when hampered 1f out, no chance after, 6th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Davids Mark (8-12) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Jan.
Tuning Fork 7-1 (8-5) Held up behind mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Alucica (8-9) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol.
Ma Ridge 12-1 (8-10) In touch until ridden and weakened 2f out, 8th of 10, 10l behind Over To You Bert (8-7) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Feb.
