disputed lead to over 4f out, pushed along 3f out, weakened quickly over 1f out
held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, weakened quickly final furlong
in touch, led just inside final 2f, clear entering final furlong, eased near finish
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden 3f out, losing place when hampered over 2f out, soon weakened
disputed lead until led over 4f out, driven and edged left approaching 2f out, soon headed, chased winner to 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, effort on outer from 3f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind, headway on wide outside 2f out, stayed on final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong
in rear, pushed along halfway until some moderate late headway
held up in rear, good headway when not clear run over 2f out, switched right to inside rail, ran on well final furlong, not reach winner
held up towards rear, ridden to challenge on outer 3f out, soon outpaced, stayed on again final furlong
Shalaya is given as the selection, but Balearic Star and Woody Valentine are other suggestions in this tricky handicap that starts the card. The selection raced very keenly on her return for the season at Ascot last time but still ran with credit when fifth to Mudawin. If the freshness has been taken out of her for that run, she can be competitive here as she looked as though she should develop reasonably well when scoring on her juvenile debut last season. Woody Valentine has been running consistently, including when sixth in a competitive handicap at Goodwood last time from today's mark. Given that he will appreciate Sandown's stiff nine furlongs than the one he encountered in Sussex, mean he makes it onto the shortlist of possibles for this contest. Sunisa is unexposed on Turf and ran well over 10 furlongs at Doncaster last time, her first try at beyond a mile. She too has claims, as does Balearic Star, who stepped up on previous efforts to score decisively at Sandown last time, and a five-pound penalty might not stop him from scoring again. While Deraasaat has been quite highly tried to date, she might be worth taking on off topweight. With most of the others, what you see is what you get and, with scope for further improvement, Shalaya, might just be good enough to score here.
