prominent, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
prominent, hampered over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
held up in touch in mid-division, effort when not much room over 1f out, not able to get on terms
tracked leaders on inside, ridden over 1f out, weakened final 100 yards
soon tracking leaders on outside, ridden over 3f out, hung left and beaten over 1f out
held up, switched right and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, readily
ridden along in rear, well beaten final 4f
slowly into stride, towards rear, driven along 5f out, struggling final 3f
led, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no impression on winner and lost 2nd towards finish
Murdanova only dead-heated for first in a lowly maiden at Wolverhampton and Strictly Art won a claimer at Southwell. Both will find this tougher but Ice Royal and Ilzam went close on their respective handicaps debuts and have to come into the reckoning. Lucymai made a winning start at Kempton but this is her first start since June so a chance is taken on VALLANCE ROAD. She is one of the more exposed but raced in better company than this last year and could make a bold bid on her first start for a new trainer.
Lucymai 14-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, faded entering final furlong, last of 4, 6 3/4l behind Champagne City (9-4) at Doncaster 7f stks (4) gf in Jun.
Sir Dudley (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Led, soon pressed, headed over 1f out, rallying when hampered inside final furlong, never recovered, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Fast Enough (9-2) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Ice Royal (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd briefly well inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Cryptic (8-13) at Kempton 7f (5) pol in Dec.
Ilzam (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) In touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, driven to join winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 12, shd behind North Creek (8-11) at Lingfield 7f (5) pol in Dec.
Murdanova (IRE) 11-4 (9-2) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, ran on under pressure to join leader post, won at Wolverhampton 6f mdn stks (6) pol in Dec beating Miss Phillyjinks (8-9), 10 ran.
Vallance Road 20-1 (8-13) Dwelt, close up, ridden 2f out, kept on to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Race Day (9-7) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Nov.
Secret Insider (USA) 11-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 11, 13l behind Renfrew Street (9-0) at Beverley 7f mdn fll stks (5) gd in Sep.
Strictly Art (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Outpaced, pushed along 3f out, headway approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Southwell 7f stks (6) pol in Nov beating Piccacard (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Mollie's Girl (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Prominent, ridden 3f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Luath (9-4) at Southwell 1m (6) pol in Dec.
Silver Springs (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) In touch in rear, ridden over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Aguerooo (9-1) at Chelmsford City 5f (5) pol in Dec.
