held up in rear, not clear run over 2f out, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, strong challenge well inside final furlong, just held
slowly into stride, always behind
chased leaders on outer, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway 2f out, pressing leaders when edged left inside final furlong, unable to quicken near finish
led, narrowly headed halfway, regained lead over 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, driven and held on gamely (hand timed)
held up, ridden over 2f out, never reach challenging position
raced keenly, chased leaders, driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
close up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
in rear, under pressure and struggling final 4f
held up in mid-division on outer, not clear run over 2f out, driven and ran on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
slowly away, behind, no real headway final 2f
soon tracked leader, slight lead halfway, headed over 2f out, stayed challenging until not quicken well inside final furlong
A fiercely competitive contest where a case can be made for a number of these. Emperor Court, Prime Number, the unexposed Etain and Shake On It are those to make the short list and Eve Johnson Houghtons' Shake On It gets the tentative vote. The selection has shown himself to go well fresh having scored first time out while he will need luck in running being a hold-up performer. Emperor Court is ultra consistent and has suffered as a consequence. Having finished runner-up last time behind the improving Haarth Soverign, he was put up 5lb for it and that might just be enough to anchor him. Prime Number is the likely pace setter but might just be vulnerable down the straight at this venue to one coming from off the pace. Etain is very interesting. The winner of a soft ground handicap over course and distance last summer, he was lightly raced thereafter, suggesting something was amiss. An easier surface might be required should he have suffered an injury. Shake On It is selected to rattle his way home.
Shake On It 10-1 (8-10) Held up last, ridden 3f out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 7l behind Six of Diamonds (9-1) at Bath 1m 2f 3yo hcp (2) frm in Sept.
Quince (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 15, 10l behind Best Prospect (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Mar.
Just Two Numbers 5-2 (8-12) In rear, headway over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 9, 10l behind Kavachi (8-2) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Rudry Dragon (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Mid-division, pushed along 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never reached leaders, 5th of 12, 2l behind Look So (8-10) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) gs.
Emperor Court (IRE) 9-4fav (9-0) Raced keenly in 4th, ridden over 1f out, slightly hampered 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Haarth Sovereign (9-1) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Aegean Prince 25-1 (8-10) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 12, 7l behind Chantaco (9-7) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Show Winner 7-4 (9-3) Prominent, led 4f out, ridden clear over 2f out, pushed out, won at Nottingham 1m 3yo mdn (5) hvy in Oct '06 beating The Grey One (9-0) by 5l, 16 ran.
Etain (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 13, 7l behind Ainama (8-2) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Leptis Magna 8-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, under pressure 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 9l behind Meditation (8-10) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Krugerrand (USA) 14-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, some late headway, never nearer, 8th of 17, 12l behind Granston (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Mar.
Prime Number (IRE) 11-8fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Harvest Joy (8-13) at Brighton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Ryedale Ovation (IRE) 8-1 (8-8) Steadied start, held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, quickened over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, just held on, won at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb beating Royal Fantasy (9-6) by a hd, 7 ran.
L'Homme de Nuit (GER) 17-10fav (8-5) Chased winner, no extra final furlong, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Denango (8-3) at Baden-Baden 1m 6f hcp gd in Sept.
Multicultural 4-1 (9-5) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 6th of 10, 5l behind Lobengula (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (6) pol in Nov.
