in touch, driven to lead over 2f out, soon clear, held on
led for 1f, led again over 4f out, headed over 2f out and weakened
slowly into stride, headway on outside 4f out, weakened 2f out
always in the rear
held up, ridden and some progress over 2f out, weakened final furlong
reared start, led after 1f, headed over 4f out, weakened 2f out
mid-division, headway 3f out, switched left over 1f out, kept on to chase leaders, one pace
towards rear, headway 3f out, ran on final furlong, just denied
mid-division to rear, steady headway from over 5f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, driven halfway, soon weakened
in touch, headway to chase winner over 1f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, weakened over 4f out
A trickily modest opener in which Fire At Will is a tentative selection ahead of Kilmeena Magic and Backlash. Basically, if Fire At Will could recover his best 2005 form he would hold good claims today and his Bath run last time was a bit more like it. Much as he finished behind Lady Duxyana in that Bath race, the longer trip might help today. Kilmeena Magic holds claims based on December Kempton form and Backlash is another to hold solid claims based on 2005 form and she should be sharper for her latest start, her first in two years. Veba was second to the now-penalised Jarvo at Yarmouth last-time out and holds chances if managing to replicate that effort on Turf, while Coronation Flight is a possibility on his all-weather debut. Once again, though, we will give a tentative nod to Fire At Will.
Jarvo 13-2 (9-4) Held up, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Yarmouth 1m 2f Stks (41-45) (7) gf in Apr beating Veba (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Coronation Flight 33-1 (9-10) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, one pace final 2f, 9th of 16, 6l behind Nadawat (8-9) at Newcastle 1m mdn fll (5) gd in Apr.
Ronsard (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Monmouthshire (8-3) at Bath 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (6) in Apr.
Kilmeena Magic 14-1 (9-0) Behind, headway 2f out, staying on when short of room inside final furlong, one pace afterwards, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind War of The Roses (9-6) at Kempton 1m 2f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Mar.
Boucheen 8-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden over 3f out, not trouble leaders, 8th of 14, 15l behind Sonderborg (8-13) at Southwell 1m banded stk (7) fbs in Dec.
Fire At Will 50-1 (9-0) Behind, ridden and hung left over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, no danger, 7th of 16, 4l behind Mountain Climb (9-0) at Bath 1m Stks (41-45) (7) frm in Apr.
Veba (USA) 14-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, pulled hard in rear, headway over 2f out, kept on no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Jarvo (9-4) at Yarmouth 1m 2f Stks (41-45) (7) gf in Apr.
Lady Duxyana 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, just failed, 2nd of 16, shd behind Mountain Climb (9-0) at Bath 1m Stks (41-45) (7) frm in Apr.
