ran green and outpaced on outside, struggling when hung left from halfway
dwelt, soon chased leaders, reminder 4f out, driven over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
led on stand rail, ridden over 1f out, headed last half furlong, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out
started slowly, behind, switched left over 2f out, headway to chase leading pair over 1f out, ran on to lead final 50 yards
chased leader, ridden over 2f out, led last half furlong, ran on until caught final 50 yards
72-rated BONHEURS ART looks the one to beat here with Music Festival, Easy Terms and Mirza the trio most likely to make a race of it. Barry Hills has had a relatively quiet start to the season but plenty of his horses have run well in defeat, so we're not concerned about the form of the yard. His filly holds an official rating of 72 on the back of several fine efforts as a juvenile and, in the hope she's strengthened up over the winter, she's put forward as the likely winner with softening conditions expected to pose little problem. Should our selection run to her best it'll take a smart newcomer to beat her, but even so Music Festival does look the most likely threat on paper as he takes to the racecourse for the first time. Generally Mark Johnston's newcomers do come on for the run, but three-year-old is a nicely bred daughter of a French Guineas winner who should cope with cut in the ground; the market will reveal more. Mirza has the benefit of a recent spin so should have no fitness problems and the race in which he took fourth at Southwell was probably a good one for the track. He's bred to sprint and should have come on for that so he has place claims at the least. Improvement should also be forthcoming from Easy Terms who ran in a fair maiden aged two and should have scope to make a decent enough sprinter, although she's got to find plenty with our pick and what she's achieved so far. Superior Edge is a full sister to the stable's Sharpened Edge, now rated 78, so she's entitled to show more but softening conditions are a concern, so of more interest in the market are the Gask-trained pair of British Sea Power and Hedonist, with the latter of marginally more interest as the pair make their debuts. This doesn't appear a particularly strong contest and it'll be disappointing if Bonheurs Art isn't good enough.
British Sea Power (IRE) Barathea gelding out of Shannon Dore.
Hedonist (IRE) Encosta De Lago gelding out of Coral Strand.
Mirza 16-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, driven halfway, soon one pace, 4th of 6, 4l behind Xilerator (8-13) at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Mar.
Music Festival (USA) Storm Cat colt out of Musical Chimes.
Bonheurs Art (IRE) 5-2fav (9-1) In touch on outside, progress halfway, challenged 2f out, ridden to narrow lead 1f out, no extra and headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Coolree Star (9-3) at Windsor 6f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Easy Terms 11-1 (8-11) Soon pushed along in rear, some headway when hung right from over 1f out, never reached leaders, 7th of 12, 10l behind La Pantera (9-0) at Goodwood 6f 2yo fll mdn (5) gd in May.
Fayre Bella 150-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, weakened over 3f out, 19th of 20, 36l behind Revered (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn fll (4) gd in Oct.
Superior Edge 33-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden halfway, one pace final furlong, 5th of 8, 6l behind Vanishing Grey (9-0) at Bath 5f 2yo stks (5) gd in Aug.
