chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, stayed on under pressure from over 1f out to go 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading pair
chased leaders, ridden and effort 2f out, kept on same pace, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, lost place over 1f out, no extra
reared start, dwelt, behind, driven to chase leaders on outside over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
behind, outpaced 3f out, soon ridden, never on terms
tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, kept on, headed post
We may only be a few days into 2010 but you'll struggle to find a worse maiden all year, but that makes the task all the more straightforward for AMBROGINA who gets the vote ahead of Freddie's Girl and Cross Section. Marco Botti has his string in good order and this one went close to adding to his current strike rate when a head second over further here last time. That effort, the filly's third start, earned her a rating of 61 which is clear second best on display and with further improvement possible we'll take this relatively unexposed sort to score, despite a slight concern about the drop back to six furlongs. The best animal on the figures is Freddie's Girl and she is therefore afforded much respect, especially as the trip looks to be ideal. Steff Liddiard's filly has had just the five starts and if she copes with this new surface her rating of 67 suggests she'll not be far away and there is hope to be had from her breeding. Cross Section completes the shortlist despite concerns about her attitude. Ed Vaughan's charge made an eye-catching debut in 2008 but was off for almost a year after and hasn't looked quite so promising since despite being presented with some winning chances and similar is likely here, with a place possibly her best hope. Luisa Tettrazini has plenty of solid if unspectacular course form and may be ready to take advantage of any chinks in the armoury of others but she's very modest, as is Lindy Hop whose one effort here resulted in a 14-length defeat off a mark of 60. Hold The Star isn't certain to act here and looks held anyway as do Bella Figheta and Montego Breeze, although the last-named is at least unexposed, but the percentage call in a weak affair is to return to Ambrogina.
Cross Section (USA) 7-2 (8-12) In touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 6l behind Erinjay (8-10) at Kempton 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Hold The Star 25-1 (8-7) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 11, 12l behind Levitation (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Lindy Hop (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 7l behind Levitation (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Luisa Tetrazzini (IRE) 20-1 (8-10) Close up on outside, ridden and every chance 2f out to over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 6l behind Dontuwishitwereso (8-6) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Montego Breeze 25-1 (8-12) Pressed leader, pushed along over 3f out, beaten over 1f out, 4th of 8, 8l behind Poet's Place (9-3) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec.
Ambrogina 4-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, chased leader over 1f out, ridden to lead narrowly 1f out, driven and headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, hd behind Lily Lily (9-0) at Southwell 1m 2yo fll mdn aut (5) std in Dec.
Freddie's Girl (USA) 22-1 (9-0) Prominent, took keen hold, chased winner over 2f out, soon every chance when ran wide bend entering straight, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Elation (9-0) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Dec.
Bella Fighetta 33-1 (8-7) Behind, never near leaders, 7th of 9, 10l behind Norse Warrior (9-3) at Wolverhampton 5f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
