awkward lead in stalls and slowly into stride, held up last, headway on inside over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, took 3rd and gaining close home
close up 4th, ridden to challenge 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, ran on well towards finish
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
raced keenly, tracked leader, ridden to dispute lead and every chance over 1f out, no extra when headed inside final furlong, lost 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, quickened to lead over 1f out, soon pressed, headed inside final furlong, not quite pace of winner
Kevin Ryan has his horses in great form and his gelding DISTINCTLY GAME is nominated here ahead of Mogok Ruby, Resplendent Alpha and El Dececy. A winner last time out, the selection was able to take advantage of his lowest mark for some time. He has a 4lb rise in the weights to contend with now but he runs this track well and with the tongue-tie applied again he should run well. Mogok Ruby is another last-time out winner but the majority of his best runs have come at Kempton and he is yet to win here. Resplendent Alpha has winning course form and should be happier back at this track, although his mark of 78 looks a bit tough still. El Dececy has been dropped 8lb for his last start and he is started to look dangerous again; he completed a hat-trick last summer off this sort of mark. Forest Dane completes the field and although he looks fairly-treated now, his last win was back in April of 2007 and he is therefore taken on. A good race, and Distinctly Game can live up to his name.
Mogok Ruby 16-1 (8-9) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway well over 1f out, hard ridden to lead well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan beating Musical Script (8-7) by a nk, 8 ran.
Resplendent Alpha 7-2 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders and kept on same pace, 6th of 7, 6l behind River Kirov (8-6) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
El Dececy (USA) 33-1 (8-4) Chased leaders, 4th and ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 11, 7l behind Doubtful Sound (8-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Distinctly Game 6-1 (9-3) Chased leader, ridden to lead just over 1f out, ran on gamely final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan beating Catalan Bay (9-4) by 1l, 8 ran.
Forest Dane 11-2 (9-1) Behind, headway on inside well over 1f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, every chance, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Distinctly Game (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
