tracked leaders, chased leaders over 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, kept on same pace
steadied start, settled towards rear, headway from well over 1f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
led, ridden over 2f out, stayed on, pressed inside final furlong, headed near finish
mid-division, headway over 1f out, ran on steadily inside final furlong to lead close home
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, weakened quickly
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no progress, soon weakened
never better than mid-division
in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong, slightly short of room near finish
behind, no headway from 2f out
behind, some headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, never nearer
tracked leaders to over 2f out, soon weakened
close up on outer, slightly outpaced over 1f out, stayed on again inside final furlong, never nearer
Nonrunner
Princess Zaha, Veneer and Lough Beg are the three for the shortlist in a competitive opener and the vote is given to Princess Zaha. The selection is a lightly-raced mare and she finished a fair fourth behind Shantina's Dream at Wolverhampton last time. She is open to plenty of improvement and she looks the percentage call. Veneer actually finished ahead of the selection in that Wolverhampton race and he was returning from a long break that day. He can go well although there is the worry that he could bounce and he lacks the scope of our choice. Lough Beg has got some fair form in Ireland and the market could guide with regards to his chance. The Power Of Phil ran well at Southwell last time when chasing home Only A Grand. He was no match for the winner that day but a reproduction of that run would given him an obvious chance. This is a race that will not take much winning and we will side with the unexposed Princess Zaha to land the spoils.
Big Ralph 7-1 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden to dispute lead 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2 places close home, 4th of 8, 1l behind Auntie Mame (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Dec.
Busy Man (IRE) 10-1 (8-3) Started very slowly, pulled hard in rear, never a factor, last of 13, 30l behind Play Up Pompey (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Dec.
Fortune Point (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 9l behind Sekula Pata (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Oct.
Lough Beg (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Held up towards rear, 11th and headway early straight, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 21, 4 1/2l behind Luzdeluna (9-6) at Leopardstown 1m 1f hcp 0-70 gf in Nov.
Marker 12-1 (9-3) Mid-division, ridden halfway, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 11, 11l behind Willofcourse (8-9) at Kempton 6f hcap (6) pol in Sept.
Montana Sky (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Mid-divisioin, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 13, 20l behind Oasis Sun (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Princess Zaha 28-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, finished 5th, placed 4th, 4th of 10, 1l behind Shantina's Dream (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Dec.
Ticking 11-1 (8-13) Started slowly, soon mid division, some headway 2f out, ridden and not quicken over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 13, 14l behind Under Fire (8-10) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-50 (6) pol in Nov.
Veneer (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden and headway on inside over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Shantina's Dream (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Dec.
War Feather 16-1 (9-3) Towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and some headway 2f out, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 11l behind Barton Sands (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 4f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Dec.
Falcon Flyer 14-1 (8-7) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Grey Gurkha (9-1) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Telling 14-1 (8-9) Dwelt, raced keenly, stumbled over 5f out, headway over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, edged left final furlong, 5th of 10, 1l behind Shantina's Dream (8-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f Stks (41-45) (7) pol in Dec.
The Power of Phil 5-1 (8-5) Towards rear, ridden halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Only A Grand (8-2) at Southwell 1m 3yo hcp (6) fbs in Dec.
Straight Face (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Prominent, effort over 3f out, soon behind, last of 17, well behind Myfrenchconnection (8-13) at Beverley 1m hcap (6) gf in Sept.
