slowly into stride, behind from 5f out
slowly into stride, behind from 5f out
mid-division, ridden and headway over 3f out, one pace final 2f
mid-division, ridden halfway, never dangerous
made all, shaken up over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong
behind, ridden over 6f out, never dangerous
with winner, ridden and every chance from 3f out, until over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
Feu d'Artifice should make experience count over First Approval, with Grave Matters and Foreign Envoy worth noting as well. Only time will tell whether there are any future Listed or Group class performers in this line up, but on the evidence so far, Feu d'Artifice looks the one to be on today at least. Richard Hannon's son of Stravinsky has had five outings to date, and has he did not look entirely comfortable on fast ground when a close second at Bath on one occasion, this slightly better going will surely help him to come good. Most of the others either return after a break, or as in the case of Berylune and Grave Matters, see the racecourse for the first time. The latter has already been gelded and his stable has yet to hit top gear, but any support in the ring would be important. Foreign Envoy saw the backside of Baskerville at Warwick and may need a step up in trip to be seen to best effect, while Gandor will no doubt show a lot more than he did on his Leicester bow last October. Basically, it is hard to gauge the likely improvement of most of them, and the safest option at this stage appears to be Feu d'Artifice.
Melmott 100-1 (9-6) With leader 4f, stayed prominent until weakened rapidly over 4f out, tailed off over 2f out, last of 11, well behind Orvietan (8-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stk (5) pol in Feb.
Berylune (GER) Devil River Peek filly out of Berlanga.
Debord (FR) 14-1 (9-3) Behind, ridden over 2f out, never on terms, 8th of 11, 5l behind Mary Delaney (8-12) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol.
Feu d'Artifice (USA) 7-2fav (9-3) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, eased, 11th of 17, 17l behind Ivy Creek (9-3) at Warwick 1m 3yo mdn (5) gs.
Foreign Envoy (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Steadied start, settled in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, 9th of 13, 11l behind Baskerville (9-3) at Warwick 7f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Gandor (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Towards rear, ridden and headway 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 7l behind Best Alibi (8-11) at Leicester 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Oct.
Grave Matters (USA) Dynaformer gelding out of 7f winner Agarita.
Ennobling 4-1 (8-9) Held up, chased leaders 3f out, soon ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, 7th of 12, 5l behind Katies Tuitor (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn aut (5) pol in Dec.
First Approval 9-2 (8-11) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, carried left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 17, 7l behind Queen's Pudding (8-11) at Nottingham 6f 2yo mdn fll (5) gd in Sept.
Zaafran 10-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, taken up over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 7th of 20, 6l behind Holda (8-11) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) sft in Oct.
