chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon beaten
led 2f, chased leader until lost place quickly over 5f out, tailed off and eased final 2f
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, weakened over 1f out
soon behind, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off and eased final 2f
in touch, led after 2f, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden to go 2nd 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, no chance with winner
slowly into stride, soon in touch, tracked leader over 5f out, led over 2f out, soon clear, driven out, unchallenged
slowly into stride and behind, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never nearer
Mineral Star, Rain Stops Play and Eqdaam are three against the field in this wide open handicap and the vote is given to the last mentioned. The selection is from a stable who are bang in form and he ran well when last seen out in October when narrowly beating Flag Lieutenant at Leicester. He has since come out and run quite well at Lingfield and if Eqdaam has improved for the winter break he will take plenty of beating. Mineral Star looks the most likely danger based on his easy win in a maiden at Yarmouth last time when be beat Cross Time. He could be anything and with conditions to suit he is entitled to go well. Rain Stops Play is from another yard in form and he has a 2000 guineas entry, and even though that looks a little on the optimistic side he is certainly worth noting in the market as he has shown plenty of promise in his five runs to date. Secret History showed a decent level of form last season and is another to consider, but for the winner we return to Eqdaam.
Pevensey (IRE) 14-1 Keen, tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and not quicken well inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 1/2l behind Sunday Symphony at Leicester 1m 2f 2yo stk (C2) gd in Oct.
Rain Stops Play (IRE) 9-1 Led, ridden over 2f out, headed just inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Glen Ida at Kempton 1m 1f 3yo hcp gd in Mar.
Eqdaam (USA) 11-1 With leaders, led after 2f, ridden and headed just over 1f out, rallied to lead well inside final furlong, won at Leicester 7f 2yo mdn (D2) gd in Oct beating Flag Lieutenant by 1/2l, 19 ran.
Following Flow (USA) 6-1 Chased leaders, chased winner over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 10, hd behind Party Boss at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (D2) pol in Jan.
Mineral Star (IRE) 11-2 Raced centre, slowly into stride, behind, headway over 5f out, led over 3f out, ran on well, won at Yarmouth 1m mdn stk sft in Mar beating Cross Time by 2l, 15 ran.
Hansomelle (IRE) 14-1 Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Crosspeace at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp 0-95 (C1) sft in Oct.
Secret History (USA) 6-1 Chased leaders, ridden and every chance from 2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Moon Forest at Newbury 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (D3) sft in Oct.
Tcherina (IRE) 11-2 Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on, won at Haydock 1m 2yo mdn fll (D2) hvy in Sept beating Higher Love by 2l, 8 ran.
