tracked leading pair, pushed along to 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up in touch, pushed along 3f out, soon beaten
chased leaders in 4th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left from over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
soon led, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, headed and unable to quicken inside final furlong
tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, driven and stayed on same pace from 2f out
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, keeping on one pace when not much room over 1f out
held up in touch, steady headway on outside over 2f out, chased leader 1f out, sustained run to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
Jeremey Noseda's Your Old Pal has good claims on this contest but we'll side with the useful looking and more experienced FOUR WINDS while progressive Palavicini shouldn't be ignored. The selection for Michael Bell looked progressive last autumn and rounded off the season with a good place in the Group Three Autumn stakes at Ascot. He stayed on well that day to suggest the step up to 10 furlongs won't be a problem today and he should take advantage of these terms. Your Old Pal was an impressive winner on debut at this track in October. It's turned out he didn't have much behind him in that race but is obviously entitled to progress from that. Palavicini will have more to do in this company after winning a maiden last time out but as long he continues his upward curve he can challenge and Akhenaten should also be noted as he was not beaten far by the pick in that Ascot race. Another excellent contest where this time we like Four Winds.
Akhenaten 16-1 (9-3) Soon mid-division on inside, ridden when hampered well over 1f out, no chance after, 12th of 14, 9l behind Mafaaz (9-3) at Kempton 1m 1f cnd stks (3yo) (2) pol in Mar.
Aurorian (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 8l behind On Our Way (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2yo stk (2) gd in Oct.
Father Time 7-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway on bit 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ridden and edged right inside final furlong, ran on, won at Great Leighs 1m 2yo mdn stks (4) pol in Nov beating Kings Destiny (9-0) by 1l, 15 ran.
Four Winds 4-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden and slightly outpaced over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, not troubled first two, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Kite Wood (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2yo stks G3 (1) gs in Oct.
Palavicini (USA) 5-6fav (9-3) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led approaching 3f out, driven inside final furlong and stayed on well, won at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct beating Lasso The Moon (9-3) by 1l, 14 ran.
Your Old Pal 33-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, led 1f out, edged right, ran on well, driven clear, won at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct beating Classically (9-3) by 6l, 16 ran.
High Heeled (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Prominent on stand's side, 4th after halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, 6th of 24, 5l behind Minor Vamp (9-0) at Curragh 7f 2yo fll gd in Sep.
