always towards rear, hung left from 2f out
chased leaders halfway, soon weakened
chased leaders to halfway
made all, driven out
chased leaders, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, always held
towards rear, never on terms
pushed along and outpaced in rear, never on terms
chased leaders, one pace from over 1f out
chased leaders, kept on final furlong
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
CAUSE FOR APPLAUSE was a very easy winner last time out and is taken to go in again here with Kingaroo much respected. The Bryan Smart-trained selection blitzed her field by 13 lengths in a seller and has been put up 15lbs so that she now has to shoulder topweight here. Even so, this is not a strong contest and she has plenty more improvement to come, so represents a confident choice from a yard in great form. Kingaroo also won here last time, getting home by a neck over 7f. Kept fresh with another six week break, he looks another one capable of improving and he'll need to if he is to successfully defy a 5lb rise. Shifting Gold won in bottomless ground at Nottingham in October and is just 1lb higher here. The return to a mile will probably be a positive and he too is respected. King's Chorister was not far away last time and gets on well with Hayley Turner, while Cool Sonata can't be discounted from a yard going well, but preference here is for Cause For Applause.
Cause For Applause (IRE) 3-1 (8-7) Chased leaders on outer, pushed along to lead over 2f out, drew clear over 1f out (hand timed), won at Southwell 1m 3yo sll (6) fbs beating Captain Bradz (8-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
King's Chorister 22-1 (9-4) Close up, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, 8th of 11, 2l behind Thewaytosanjose (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (6) pol.
Lomica 14-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 20l behind Eloquently (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn auc (6) pol in Oct.
Shifting Gold (IRE) 13-2 (9-7) Reminders to lead soon after start, headed 3f out, soon ridden, weakening when not much room approaching final furlong, 6th of 9, 5l behind Kinigi (9-3) at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp (5) fbs in Nov.
Kingaroo (IRE) 16-1 (8-2) Towards rear, headway on inner over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on, won at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp (6) fbs in Dec beating Rio Cobolo (9-3) by a nk, 14 ran.
Kneesy Earsy Nosey 16-1 (8-10) Pulled hard, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 6th of 11, 4l behind Trusted Venture (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 2yo hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Chantilly Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 6l behind Trusted Venture (9-3) at Great Leighs 1m 2yo hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Le Petit Vigier 5-1jt-fav (8-7) Prominent, ridden along halfway, soon beaten, 10th of 14, 13l behind Kingaroo (8-2) at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Lady Dunhill (IRE) 50-1 (8-8) Behind and soon pushed along, kept on from over 1f out, no impression, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Lemon N Sugar (9-10) at Southwell 6f mdn fll (5) fbs.
Cool Sonata (IRE) 25-1 (8-2) Led until headed 3f out, lost place and weakened rapidly 2f out, last of 12, 26l behind Dream Huntress (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Paint Splash 6-1 (8-1) Dwelt, soon in touch, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon clear, eased inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Southwell 7f 2yo sll (6) fbs in Dec beating Kneesy Earsy Nosey (8-7) by 5l, 9 ran.
