led at steady pace, joined 2f out, headed well over 1f out, ridden and one pace when hampered over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders on outside, led well over 1f out, hung right and headed over 1f out, chased winner, held when lost 2nd final 110 yards
chased leader, challenged and every chance 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out, eased, tailed off
took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace after
very awkward leaving stalls, behind, headway on wide outside halfway, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out, eased when beaten final furlong
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on outside over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out, went 2nd final 110 yards and closed on winner near finish
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway to get in behind leaders 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway on outside 3f out, sustained run to lead over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, stayed on well
in touch, effort on inside 2f out, weakened over 1f out
It's hard to be dogmatic about this fiercely competitive fillies' handicap but our nominal short-list comprises GOLDEN ARIA, Forest Crown and Tafawut with preference for the Hannon runner. Nafura is 20lbs higher than when achieving the first of her two wins and Whirly Dancer has been raised by 10lbs for defeating an underachiever at Folkestone so both have something to prove in terms of their revised marks. Mirabella progressed with racing and should continue to progress this season but preference is for her stablemate Golden Aria who looks potentially well treated on her defeat of Timepiece in September and her third to Guineas also-ran Pipette on her second outing. Dark Eyes is entitled to improve on her reappearance but a bigger challenge may be posed by Crowded House's half-sister Forest Crown who should prove up to winning races from her initial mark. That remark also applies to recent maiden winners I'm A Dreamer and Flighty Frances whilst Tafawut hails from a yard in form and came home strongly to go close last time. It's difficult to rule out any of the fillies in this line-up but Golden Aria may be the one to hit the right note.
Nafura 10-11fav (9-7) Held up in touch, headway on bit over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Duty And Destiny (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Whirly Dancer 3-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong, won at Folkestone 7f mdn stks (5) gs in Apr beating Spa's Dancer (8-12) by 5l, 14 ran.
Mirabella (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Made most, ran wide bend into straight 2f out, soon hung badly right, driven and ran on, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Be A Devil (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Dark Eyes (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, held up last, headway on inside 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not pace of leading pair and lost 3rd last stride, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind Hypnotized (9-0) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Golden Aria (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Took keen hold early, dropped in to mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo stks (4) gf in Sep beating Timepiece (9-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Forest Crown 7-1 (8-12) Towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Nov beating Mutafajer (9-3) by 1l, 9 ran.
Flighty Frances (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, chased leader over 1f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f 3yo mdn fll (5) pol in Apr beating Wishformore (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
I'm A Dreamer (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Dwelt, in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and ran on to lead post, won at Yarmouth 1m fll mdn auc (5) gd in Apr beating Towbaat (8-12) by shd, 16 ran.
Tafawut 14-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, soon headway, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Layla's Lexi (8-6) at Haydock 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Apr.
Al Khimiya (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) In rear, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 6l behind Calypso Star (8-11) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
