steadied start, took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, effort stands side over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, no impression
chased leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well
held up in rear, headway when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, ridden and ran on to 2nd inside final furlong, never able to challenge
led early, pressed leader, led again over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up tracking leaders, pushed along halfway, weakening when squeezed out over 1f out
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, hung right and weakened over 1f out
Having won on soft ground at Ripon, Thunderball was beaten less than two lengths when seventh in a big field at Doncaster off this mark next time. Scott Dixon's sprinter should go close again here but Gouray Girl was put up 3lb after finishing second over 7f at Leicester and it's almost four years since recent Southwell winner Masai Moon was last successful on turf. SULIS MINERVA is on a career-high mark after winning at Kempton at the start of the month but he's been in cracking form on the all-weather and we'll take a chance that Jeremy Gask's five-year-old can transfer that improvement to turf. Secret Witness is a very decent sprinter on his day but normally needs a run or two to put him straight and is probably best watched today.
Secret Witness 3-1 (8-11) Raced keenly, ridden and lost place well over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 6, 5l behind Oasis Dancer (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f stks (3yo+) (4) pol in Dec.
Thunderball 14-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders centre, driven when groups merged over 2f out, ridden and kept on under pressure final furlong, 7th of 20, 1 3/4l behind Farlow (9-0) at Doncaster 6f hcp 0-90 (3) gs.
Gouray Girl (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Pulled hard held up, not clear run from over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, headway soon after, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Global Village (9-0) at Leicester 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
Kingsdine (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Led 1f, prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 21l behind Shavansky (9-3) at Chepstow 1m hcp 0-100 (2) gs in Jul.
Sulis Minerva (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Hatta Stream (8-11) by 3l, 12 ran.
Masai Moon 7-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders, led halfway, ridden clear final furlong, comfortable, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Apr beating Mappin Time (9-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
