held up, always behind
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, outpaced 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, ridden to challenge 2f out, kept on until one pace final furlong
always behind
tracked leaders, driven 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on until headed and no extra final 75 yards
held up behind, headway on outside 3f out, driven and stayed on well inside final furlong to lead final 75 yards
mid-division, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, effort when not clear run over 1f out, switched right inside final furlong, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish
Jane Chapple-Hyam's Saloon faces no easy task giving weight away on ground that is softer than ideal and a better bet at the other end of the handicap looks to be RED WINE, who gets the vote over Patavium. Edwin Tuer's gelding will not mind the underfoot conditions and comes here fit from hurdling so he has to be respected but may just be a shade too high in the handicap at present so looks best watched. George Moore's Bijou Dan is another that could probably do with some help from the handicapper and of more interest may be James Given's Royal Trooper, who makes his seasonal reappearance but does so on ground that suits and off a mark only 1lb higher than when scoring over course and distance when last seen in November. Alan Swinbank saddles two runners in Miss Keck and Bandanaman and it is difficult to choose which of the pair have more solid claims, although marginal preference on jockey bookings would be for the latter. John Quinn's Classic Contours is another worthy of a mention but the yard is struggling to have winners at the moment and preference is for Red Wine. Jeremy Glover's gelding could not justify market favouritism on his return to the turf at Doncaster's opening meeting but the stable's runners are in better form now and he looks worth another chance on his favoured ground.
Saloon (USA) 7-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced 3f out, driven and rallied approaching final furlong, stayed on to take 2nd post, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Follow The Dream (8-10) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Bijou Dan 8-1 (8-7) Prominent early, soon steadied, held up, headway over 5f out, pushed along 4f out, one pace final 2f, 5th of 7, 6l behind Bergonzi (9-1) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jul.
Classic Contours (USA) 11-2 (9-2) Led, soon clear until over 5f out, headed 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 4l behind Veiled (9-7) at Redcar 1m 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Sep.
Royal Trooper (IRE) 4-1 (9-8) Made all, set steady pace, quickened 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely when challenged inside final furlong, won at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Nov beating Soundbyte (9-10) by nk, 7 ran.
Moscow Oznick 25-1 (8-10) Always behind, 11th of 12, 10l behind Danderek (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Miss Keck 11-2 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon no impression, 5th of 11, 16l behind Promise Maker (9-6) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Sep.
Bandanaman (IRE) 13-2 (9-8) Held up mid-division, soon in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 6th of 11, 17l behind Mountain Forest (8-2) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
Patavium (IRE) 3-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, soon tracking leaders, led over 1f out, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Rossini's Dancer (10-9) at Newcastle 1m 4f am hcp (6) sft in Oct.
Red Wine 9-2fav (8-3) Fly jumped start, raced wide in rear, not troubled leaders, 7th of 17, 12l behind Leslingtaylor (9-4) at Doncaster 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Mar.
Call Of Duty (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway on inside over 3f out, switched left, soon short of room over 2f out, never troubled leaders, 9th of 15, 12l behind Tropical Duke (10-0) at Beverley 1m 2f am hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Sep.
Amir Pasha (UAE) 7-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, lost place over 2f out, 8th of 11, 18l behind Saxona (8-11) at Carlisle 2m 1f mdn hcp 0-65 (6) gd in Jul.
