always behind
chased leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, ran on inside final furlong
made all, ridden clear 2f out, ran on well
slowly into stride, always behind
slowly into stride, in touch until weakened over 3f out
always behind
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced halfway, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong
Bright Fire just gets the call here ahead of Fit To Fly and Vittorioso, but it looks a fairly competitive heat with a number of them open to improvement. A win would certainly boost the well-bred Otylia's paddock value but, even though she has been consistent of late, her only run so far on this surface was disappointing. Dante's Devine has shown some promise but you have to bank on a drop to six-furlongs for the first time bringing about improvement. That said, there is some fast blood in her pedigree. Fit To Fly ran well in a fair maiden behind Matloob at Leicester on his second run and comes into the reckoning on that basis despite this being his first outing on the all-weather. Global Achiever has been placed in all three starts, including here, but the overall form is modest. Vittorioso hails from a stable in form and his third to Cut And Dried at Lingfield on February 14 has since been boosted. Bright Fire might well have won if she had not been hampered in a better race at Sandown last July and is another to consider despite this being her all-weather debut. This six-furlong trip should suit better too. Brooklands Time acts on the surface but has to improve overall to play a hand in the finish. Jilly Why is another to have shown promise on Turf, while Nafferton Girl could well prove better suited by this trip than the five and seven furlongs she has so far raced over. Nanna's second to Emaradia over course and distance in January gives her place claims. Overall, though, we'll take a chance on Bright Fire.
