tracked winner, driven to challenge well over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace final furlong
made all, hard ridden when challenged over 1f out, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, weakened halfway
chased leaders, driven halfway, progress to challenge over 1f out, kept on well under pressure
chased leaders, lost place over 2f out
RITA'S BOY made amends for an earlier narrow-margin defeat here with a victory over 5f last week. Another bold bid is expected raised only 2lb. Apache Storm and Just Marion arrive on the back of good efforts at Wolverhampton with the former preferred as she drops in class while Tamarin's best effort so far came at the same track back in October. Doppler Effect also makes his Fibresand debut but has not raced since September.
Rita's Boy (IRE) 2-9fav (9-10) Tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, edged left and ran on, won at Southwell 5f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec beating Zebs Lad (8-11) by nk, 3 ran.
Apache Storm 4-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Portamento (9-0) at Wolverhampton 5f Conditions Stakes (2yo) (2) in Dec.
Doppler Effect 15-2 (9-5) Prominent, led over 4f out, headed over 2f out, soon lost place, 10th of 13, 13l behind Them And Us (9-5) at Ripon 6f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Sep.
Just Marion (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Tracked leaders, driven 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, just held, 3rd of 4, 3/4l behind Kaufmann (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) in Dec.
Tamarin 25-1 (9-0) In touch, hampered on outside after 1f, no impression when ridden inside final 2f, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 10l behind Mo Henry (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f 2yo mdn stks (5) in Dec.