chased leaders, ridden and headway to lead over 1f out, ridden out
led 1f, chased leader after, hung right and outpaced 2f out, rallied and stayed on to take 2nd near finish
slowly away, headway over 4f, came centre over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
held up in rear, ridden halfway, chased winner inside final furlong, weakened near finish
led 5f out until over 1f out, weakened
There is not much to split Princely Vale and Ronnies Lad on what they have shown to date and they look sure to take up the largest volume in the betting market. However, there could be a little mileage to be gained in a small stakes investment in Witty Girl, who shaped as if this trip would ideally suit on her debut and she looks the value call in a modest race that gets us underway at Brighton. The daughter of Whittingham was taken off her hooves in the early stages of her first outing before knuckling down to finish just over two lengths behind a comfortable winner. The way she stuck to the task gave plenty of encouragement for the future and, if a literal reading of her proximity to Glasson Lodge is taken in, she does not have too much top find with Princely Vale if this extra furlong does prove to be the for her. Ronnies Lad also has to be seriously considered as he handled the course well last time and can continue to pay his way in this grade for the time being. He was claimed for ¿7,000 after winning a modest race at Newcastle last month and can be placed to good effect by his shrewd trainer in the coming months. However, at the likely prices, it may be worth siding with Witty Girl today as her debut was enough of an incentive for her current connections to assume there is plenty more to come from her. This is a realistic target for Witty Girl, who will not need to have come on much to help pay back the ¿6,000 she cost Miss Lilo Blum eight days ago
