tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, hung left and led over 1f out, soon headed, driven and stayed on
tracked leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened quickly from over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up well in rear, switched left 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, not reach leaders
always in rear
slowly into stride, held up well in rear, headway on inside when hampered over 1f out, kept on
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
broke well, soon steadied to mid-division, headway to go in touch halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out
in touch, outpaced and not clear run over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
slowly away, tailed off 2 out
held up towards rear, took closer order halfway, ridden and headway to chase leaders over 1f out, driven and ran on towards finish
Ruling Reef has claims but we're more interested in The Dagger, Amical Risks and Flight Dream as all three are potentially open to improvement and hail from shrewd yards; The Dagger gets the nod. He was well backed on debut for Gary Moore having shaped with promise on four runs for John Best but he failed to land the money. He appeared not to see out the trip that day and was a shade disappointing but he's been dropped by a couple of pounds as a consequence and should appreciate these conditions. Amical Risks is related to the smart hurdler Mister Height and is another for whom the conditions should hold no fears. He ran adequately at Doncaster in a race won by Red Wine and rates as short-list material. Our triumvirate of contenders is made up by Flight Dream who began his career with a run in a Naas bumper last year. This is his first run on the turf on the level and he needs to improve as he hasn't exactly shone on the all-weather. The blinkers that he's worn of late are left off today though and Neil Callan takes the ride rather than the apprentices that have been on board of late and it would be no surprise to see him run well. For the winner though, we'll come back to The Dagger.
Flight Dream (FR) 28-1 (9-1) Set decent gallop, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 11l behind Rebellious Spirit (9-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
The Dagger 11-2 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 6l behind Oasis Sun (8-13) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Earl Kraul (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and close enough over 1f out, not quicker and weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 5l behind Rebellious Spirit (9-5) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Etoile d'Or (IRE) 5-4fav (8-7) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Yarmouth 1m 3f 3yo sll (6) sft in Oct beating Ful of Grace (8-7) by 14l, 7 ran.
Amical Risks (FR) 20-1 (8-3) Steadied at start, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 16, 7l behind Red Wine (8-8) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Copper King 7-1 (9-0) Always in the rear, 9th of 13, 9l behind Dinner Date (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Mar.
Forfeiter (USA) 5-1 (8-6) Led, ridden over 2f out, no extra when headed over 1f out, 7th of 12, 5l behind Smokey The Bear (8-9) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Dec.
King of Connacht 33-1 (9-1) Tracked leader after 3f, every chance 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, 12th of 16, 8l behind Snake Skin (9-2) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Mar.
Princelywallywogan 50-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on well to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 17, 3l behind Carlitos Spirit (9-4) at Nottingham 1m hcp 0-65 (6) sft.
Muskatsturm (GER) 16-1 (9-10) In touch, ridden and weakened over 3f out, last of 10, 41l behind Patrixprial (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (E) sft in Aug '04.
Personify 10-1 (8-12) Held up, effort 3f out, chased leaders over 1f out, faded final furlong, 3rd of 6, 9l behind One Night In Paris (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Mar.
Istibian (IRE) 66-1 (8-5) Towards rear, raced wide after 2f, tailed off halfway and pulled up in race won by Moonlight Fantasy (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov, 11 ran.
Ruling Reef 11-2 (8-2) In touch, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Nimello (9-2) at Southwell 1m 4f app hcp (6) fbs in Mar.
