chased leader, ridden and headway to lead 3f out, soon drifted left, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden and outpaced 3f out, stayed on from 1f out, ran on well to go 2nd close home
held up in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in touch, ridden and headway to chase winner over 1f out, kept on final furlong
held up in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden 3f out, switched right and headway 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
switched right, soon led, ridden over 3f out, headed 3f out, drifted left, weakened final furlong
always behind, ridden 4f out, no impression
In an opener that lacks strength, the ones for the short list are Queen Of Iceni, Garibaldi and Thorny Mandate, with the vote going to Garibaldi. Lightly raced, the selection has, admittedly, threatened more than he has delivered thus far but, having made late headway at Lingfield two runs ago over roughly today's trip, a spin over hurdles last time might just have helped to focus his mind and he can go well. Much as Queen Of Iceni's best form has come over further, she could well go off in front today and prove too much to handle for a number of her opponents, while Thorny Mandate put up a fair run off today's mark at Warwick over 11 furlongs last time, is not far above a winning mark and at least comes here in form so is respected. For us, the others have more to prove than be confident about in terms of giving them positive nominations which, in turn, returns us to the selection, which is Garibaldi.
Queen of Iceni 5-1 (9-5) Held up in mid-division, not clear run inside final 3f, chased leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 13, 7l behind Mister Right (9-4) at Newbury 1m 5f hcap (5) gf.
Danger Zone 13-2 (9-6) In touch, ridden to challenge and every chance 1f out, not pace of winner and lost 2nd post, 3rd of 14, 2l behind The Fonze (7-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Garibaldi (GER) 13-2 (9-1) Held up, headway on inside over 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 4l behind Secretary General (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (5) gf.
Consonant (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, headway to chase winner over 2f out, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Forthright (11-5) at Newbury 1m 2f amt hcp (5) gf.
Eldorado 6-1 (8-13) Never a danger, 8th of 11, 16l behind Sir Monty (9-5) at Salisbury 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Scutch Mill (IRE) 12-1 (8-8) Held up and always in rear, last of 12, 11l behind Winners Delight (9-0) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Thorny Mandate 15-2 (9-7) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon outpaced and hung left over 1f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Siena Star (9-2) at Warwick 1m 3f hcap (6) gf.
Oakley Absolute 28-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened just over 1f out, 8th of 15, 17l behind Night Storm (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Rosiella 16-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 8, 9l behind String Serenade (8-13) at Brighton 1m 2f sll (6) frm.
