dwelt, soon in touch, ridden, outpaced over 2f out, driven, ran on inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden, some headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in mid-division, headway on inside from over 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
held up mid-division, lost place over 3f out, plenty to do 1f out, ran on strongly gaining near finish
in touch, ridden 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, stayed on
led, headed 7f out, remained prominent, gradually lost place from 3f out, eased 1f out
tracked leaders, led 7f out, ridden over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
held up in rear, not clear run entering final 2f, never dangerous
pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide, close up 8f
with leaders, ridden, every chance from 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, never dangerous
Nina Fontenail, Barton Sands, Missie Baileys and Joe Jo Star are all shortlisted but Nina Fontenail is our pick. A model of consistency last summer when winning big handicaps at Folkestone and Chepstow, the selection goes well fresh and looks set to run a very big race under topweight. The veteran Barton Sands is slowly slipping down the weights and, as a course and distance winner with Darryll Holland booked to ride, has to be respected. Missie Baileys is another course and distance winner with a chance, as is the Ian Williams-trained Smoothie. Finally, Joe Jo Star has some good recent form but his wins have come in banded company and this represents a step up in class. This returns us to the progressive Nina Fontenail, who is our pick to defy topweight in this contest.
Nina Fontenail (FR) 5-1 (9-6) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 8th of 14, 7l behind In Deep (9-0) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
Barton Sands (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Eloquent Knight (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Cherished Number 11-4 (8-5) Reared start, headway over 1f out, chased winner final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Shannon Arms (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Feb.
Primeshade Promise 8-1 (9-1) Always in rear, 15th of 18, 17l behind Elidore (9-8) at Chepstow 1m hcp (6) gf in Aug.
Abbeygate 7-1 (8-11) Held up, headway on outside 2f out, stayed on one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Kumakawa (8-1) at Southwell 1m app hcp (6) fbs in Feb.
Joe Jo Star 8-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden 3f out, every chance over 1f out, ran on, 3rd of 12, nk behind Gallego (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 45-70 (6) pol.
Aberdeen Park 12-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon faded, 6th of 14, 4l behind Abbeygate (8-11) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Nov.
Alqaayid 8-1 (8-8) In touch, lost place place over 5f out, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, not quicken close home, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Gallego (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 45-70 (6) pol.
