led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
slowly into stride, niggled along in last place, headway to lead over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, one pace
always going well, led entering final furlong, easily
chased leader over 2f, hung left and weakened over 2f out
Sophia Gardens has Cerebus back in third place when successful here two starts ago but Alan McCabe's mare was having her first start two months that day and showed much improved form here later in the month so is taken to reverse that form and gets the vote, with Silver Hotspur rated the pick of the remainder. The selection could hardly have been more impressive when winning over six furlongs last time, should not be inconvenienced by the step up to seven furlongs and she gets the vote to follow up. Intersky Sports has given little sign of encouragement of late and a bigger threat is likely to come from Silver Hotspur, who has been running consistently well of late. Cerebus has solid claims on recent form though and she is preferred.
Cerebus 6-5fav (9-4) Made all, clear over 2f out, ridden out, won at Southwell 6f fll hcp (5) fbs in Jan beating Blackmalkin (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Sophia Gardens 15-8fav (8-4) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon led again, ran on, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Jan beating Dudley Docker (9-4) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Silver Hotspur 13-2 (9-1) Held up, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 5th of 7, 7l behind Hits Only Jude (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Jan.
Intersky Sports (USA) 20-1 (8-5) Held up, pushed along over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, last of 7, 21l behind Soviet Palace (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
