chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong
in touch, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, behind, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace
set steady pace until quickened well over 2f out, soon hard pressed, headed well inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leader, driven to challenge over 1f out, soon hung left and lost place
steadied in mid-division, took keen hold, headway over 2f out, not clear run from over 1f out and throughout final furlong, never able to trouble leaders
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
pulled hard in mid-division, headway over 1f out, soon weakened
always behind
held up towards rear, outpaced over 2f out, headway when not clear run over 1f out, never on terms
tracked leaders, keen, effort well over 1f out, faded final furlong
tracked leader, every chance over 2f out, weakened closing stages
Straight Right won the inaugural running of this in 2018 and scored over 6f at Kempton last time while Keyser Soze was successful in last year’s renewal and an apprentice’s allowance helps his cause today. Glen Shiel beat Rathbone, with Baronial Pride further behind, when scoring over track and trip and another bold bid is expected while Athollblair Boy saves his best for this venue and won over 6f here last week. He’s preferred to the other recent winners Hart Stopper and Young Fire in this grade though Oh This Is Us is capable at this level if rediscovering his best. But ALJARI (NAP) found only one too good in a similar contest here last time and, with scope for further progress in first-time headgear, Marco Botti’s unexposed colt gets the vote.
Librisa Breeze 11-1 (9-10) Close up in rear, switched right approaching final furlong, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Reeves (8-9) at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Oh This Is Us (IRE) 17-2 (9-5) Steadied start, held up in rear, some late headway, never troubled leaders, 5th of 7, 6 1/4l behind Via Serendipity (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (2) pol in Feb.
Keyser Soze (IRE) 2-1fav (9-12) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never a threat, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Reeves (8-6) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Glen Shiel 4-1 (9-11) Keen tracked leader, led over 2f out, 2 lengths clear entering final furlong, ridden out, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan beating Rathbone (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Kasbaan 6-1 (9-8) Led, pushed along and headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 5, 7 3/4l behind Dubai Warrior (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Dec.
Straight Right (FR) 7-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, switched left over 1f out, ran on to lead 100 yards out, held on, won at Kempton 6f stks (2) pol in Jan beating Silent Echo (9-2) by nk, 5 ran.
Young Fire (FR) 6-1 (9-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders over 2f out, ridden 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final 100 yards, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb beating Calder Prince (9-4) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Rathbone 8-1 (9-4) Dwelt in touch in rear, headway when edged right over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Glen Shiel (9-11) at Newcastle 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Sanaadh 7-2 (8-10) Held up in rear, under pressure well over 2f out, eased over 1f out, pulled up inside final furlong, at Lingfield 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Aljari 6-1 (8-4) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Above The Rest (9-3) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Hart Stopper 5-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, going well when not clear run over 1f out, switched right and ran on inside final furlong, pushed along and led near finish, cleverly, won at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan beating Fuente (9-0) by hd, 9 ran.
Baronial Pride 14-1 (9-1) Awkwardly away and switched right start, in touch in rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Glen Shiel (9-11) at Newcastle 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Athollblair Boy (IRE) 4-1jfav (9-5) Steadied start, held up in last pair, switched left and smooth headway between horses over 1f out, pushed along to lead inside final 150 yards, quickened clear, ran on well, won at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb beating Glenamoy Lad (9-10) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Papa Stour (USA) 7-2 (8-11) Led, headed 6f out, prominent, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Jan beating Glory of Paris (8-7) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
