taken to post early, mid-division, headway over 1f out, brought to stand side and led inside final furlong, ridden an ran on
towards rear, ridden halfway, switched left and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
dwelt, always in rear
chased leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, kept on same pace
chased leader until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden halfway, headway entering final furlong, kept on to go 3rd towards finish
led, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
raced wide chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
led to post, awkward leaving stalls, pushed along in rear, kept on final furlong, never a factor
Nonrunner
This is TOP COP's first try over the minimum trip but he could well improve for the drop in distance as his dam was very speedy. Andrew Balding's colt finished ahead of subsequent winners Dam Beautiful and Ballesteros on his reappearance over 6f at Newmarket and should confirm the form on better terms as, though stall nine probably isn't a perfect draw, it may not be too significant with only 11 runners. C&D winner Vocational, who was second in a Group 3 at Kempton last September, was behind Dam Beautiful at Hamilton last Sunday but should strip fitter here and Last Bid will be all the better for last month's fifth at Thirsk. Pale Orchid and Sonko were both all-weather winners over the winter but will find this surface a lot more testing.
Ballesteros 7-2 (9-1) Taken down early, sweating, dwelt and pushed left after start, held up, headway halfway, switched right to rail entering final 2f, switched left and chased leader over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, driven out, won at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) hvy in Apr beating Bear Behind (9-7) by nk, 6 ran.
Dam Beautiful 13-2 (8-6) Carried right start, held up towards rear, headway and not much room over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, soon ridden and hung left, kept on well, won at Hamilton 5f con stks (3) gs beating Stonefield Flyer (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Last Bid 10-1 (9-7) Went left start, pushed along in rear, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 8l behind Free Zone (8-13) at Thirsk 5f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Apr.
Pale Orchid (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Chased leadrs, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Gusto (9-0) at Kempton 6f 3yo Listed stks (1) pol.
Powerful Wind (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Squezzed out start, soon recovered to track leader, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 6, 18l behind Pearl Secret (9-5) at Doncaster 5f 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) hvy in Apr.
Church Music (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Soon outpaced and pushed along in rear, switched right and stayed on inside final furlong, went moderate 3rd towards finish, never any chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Ballesteros (9-1) at Sandown 5f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) hvy in Apr.
Sonko (IRE) 2-1fav (9-7) Made all, clear over 1f out, soon hung right, ran on well, won at Lingfield 5f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan beating Russian Bullet (8-9) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Bubbly Ballerina 20-1 (8-4) Chasing leaders when switched left to inside over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, staying on same pace when hampered on rail inside final furlong, weakened, 6th of 7, 7l behind Duchess Dora (8-13) at Chester 5f cond Stakes (3) sft.
Electric Qatar 15-2 (9-2) Went left start, chased leading pair, driven over 2f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 7th of 9, 12l behind Exceedance (9-1) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Vocational (USA) 7-2 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 9l behind Dam Beautiful (8-6) at Hamilton 5f con stks (3) gs.
Top Cop 7-1 (8-13) In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 16, 7l behind Es Que Love (8-12) at Newmarket 6f 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Apr.
