behind, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, ridden and edged right over 1f out, ran on
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, soon outpaced, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, lost place 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to take 2nd post
More excellent prize-money on offer, and with 10 course or course and distance winners in the line-up, the prize will be well earned. Overall, though, we'll side with Quito but there are any number of the runners that will have their supporters. The Ayr Gold Cup winner Quito is six pounds higher in the weights now than for that momentous victory, but he can still run well here. A race that could have a bearing on today's contest is a five-furlong event that took place at Southwell on December 9. In that Zarzu finished a length and a quarter ahead of Bond Playboy, who in turn was three-parts of a length in front of Quito. Trinculo was then marginally behind Quito and Massey even further behind. On the terms of today's race, things look close between Zarzu, Bond Playboy and Quito. Our line of thinking says that the Brian Smart stable will have a very good line on the chances of Bond Boy in relation to Bond Playboy. That said, Bond Boy finished behind Trinculo, Quito and Zarzu at Southwell on November 19. Who'd be a handicapper, eh? On balance, there should not be too much between a number of these runners, and many will have been primed to land this big pot. Another to bear in mind is Willie Haggas's Hand Chime, although he finished behind Massey on his only try so far on today's surface, although the pair are closely weighted today on the back of that run. To add further spice to things, Zarzu and Quito were also beaten in that race, which occurred in February of last year and there is no doubt that Massey would also hold chances if returning to that level of form. Of the others, Sundried Tomato has won from a two-pound higher mark than today's at Southwell, No Time has won from a higher mark on Turf, but is untried on this surface, course and distance winner Canterloupe has won from a slightly higher mark on Turf, and Flint River is also a course and distance winner, hails from a canny stable but has to defy a career-high rating in order to score. A compelling contest Because he's reliable and tough, we'll stick with Quito, who is not too badly drawn in stall 11.
