led, ridden inside final 2f, headed over 1f out, stayed on, not pace of winner inside final furlong
tracked leader, headway to lead when stumbled over 1f out, ridden and ran on well to go clear inside final furlong
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading pair
stride faultered and dropped rear soon after start, headway on outside and in touch after 2f, lost place over 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up behind, ridden and effort on inside over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
GEORGE BENJAMIN sets the standard here and is taken to open his account from Search For The Key and Innocuous although support for Nezhenka would clearly be of interest and Widow Bird can't be ignored. David Nicholls has a decent strike rate at the track and boasts a healthy level stakes profit, George Benjamin is unlikely to add greatly to that total but he should take the beating. It's his first run on this surface so his ability to act on it has to be taken on trust but he ran a series of sound races last term and should be able to open his account if able to run up to a similar level of form. Search For The Key has 5lbs to find on official figures but his pedigree provides hope that he'll be effective on fibresand for a yard that knows what it takes to win here. The jockey booking is a positive and he ran as well as can have been expected behind Party Doctor. Widow Bird is entitled to improve from her initial experience over course and distance and should make her presence felt whilst Innocuous showed ability at Wolverhampton. Nezhenka is an interesting newcomer for a yard that had their first winner of the year at the weekend but George Benjamin sets a decent standard.
George Benjamin 9-2 (9-3) Close up, ridden and outpaced and lost place halfway, headway under pressure from over 1f out, chased winner and no impression inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Walvis Bay (9-3) at York 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Innocuous 9-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, led over 1f out, headed inisde final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Arctic Cosmos (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn auc stks (6) pol in Apr.
New Code 14-1 (9-1) Chased leading trio, effort 3f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened and no chance with leading duo when lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 6l behind Suited And Booted (9-1) at Windsor 1m mdn auc stks (5) sft.
Search For The Key (USA) 12-1 (8-11) In touch in rear, ridden 2f, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Party Doctor (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Apr.
Moonlight Babe (USA) 100-1 (9-0) Dwelt, always in rear, 8th of 9, 19l behind Saafia (9-0) at Beverley 7f 2yo stks (4) gf in Aug.
Nezhenka With Approval filly out of Ninotchka.
Widow Bird (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Slowly away, mid-division, headway halfway, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on well, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Staff Sergeant (9-3) at Southwell 1m 3yo mdn stks (5) fbs in Apr.
