slowly into stride, ridden along in rear, lost touch halfway, soon tailed off
in touch, ridden over 3f out, kept on one pace final 2f
held up mid-division, ridden 5f out, soon beaten
slowly into stride, soon in mid-division, weakened halfway, soon tailed off
slowly into stride, ridden along in rear, tailed off halfway
towards rear, headway over 4f out, stayed on final 2f but not a danger
always towards rear, under pressure over 4f out, some headway 3f out, never a danger
held up in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up mid-division, lost place over 5f out, soon tailed off
took keen hold, close up, ridden along over 4f out and lost place, soon tailed off
held up, behind, ridden 5f out, kept on under pressure final 2f, never nearer
led narrowly to just over 2f out, kept on same pace afterwards
held up behind, headway over 2f out, stayed on to chase winner well inside final furlong but held near finish
Not the most competitive maiden of the day and we take Meissen to confirm the promise of a couple of decent runs, with Samaria, Lomapamar and Jonanaud potential dangers. The selection had been knocking on the door earlier in the season, with two successive second-placed efforts at Sandown over 10f and last time out at Kempton over a mile-and-a-half. Her fitness has to be taken on trust after a three month break, but her yard is in form and she should be able to handle this extra furlong with the minimum of fuss, so we take her to score. Samaria is not bred to get this far, and she will struggle to get home on the evidence we have so far, just as she did over 12 furlongs last time. The same can be said of Lomapamar, who ran well with cut to finish third over 11 furlongs at Goodwood on her penultimate start, but who flopped when upped in grade last time. Though this company will be more suitable, if she does not have the stamina it is hard to see her winning. The potential fly in the ointment could be John Manners-trained Jonanaud. Excepting bumpers this is his first outing on the level, but he seems to handle all conditions and was in tremendous form in the spring over hurdles, so a big run from him would be no surprise. Even so, Meissen has gone close enough thus far for us to support her to make it third time lucky here.
