keen, held up, pushed along over 2f out, never a factor
in rear, outpaced over 3f out
raced wide in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led 2f, tracked leader, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
towards rear, never on terms
held up, ridden and kept on final furlong, never nearer
stumbled leaving stalls, soon recovered in touch, short of room over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
always towards rear
LANCELOT DU LAC finished runner-up in last year’s renewal despite a high draw and can go one better this time round. Dean Ivory’s sprinter finished ahead of Boom The Groom and Realize last season and beat Mythmaker, Gracious John and Pretend over course and distance in February before finding only Royal Birth too good over the minimum trip here last time. The latter also beat Verne Castle and 2015 winner Pretend on that occasion but has only raced over 6f once before when runner-up at Ascot. Richard Fahey has won this twice in the past with Alben Star and runs Kimberella, who scored on his debut for the trainer over 5f here last month. Equally proficient over today’s distance, he’s not out of this, but Doc Sportello took a big hike in the weights after winning at Newcastle in January and was well beaten last time.
Boom The Groom (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led narrowly to over 3f out, in touch, outpaced over 2f out, ridden and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, held towards finish, 4th of 8, 1/2l behind Royal Birth (9-0) at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Doc Sportello (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Held up and behind, pushed along 3f out, never a factor, 10th of 11, 11 3/4l behind Robot Boy (8-12) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Encore d'Or 5-2jfav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, driven to challenge inside final furlong, stayed on to lead post, won at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Mar beating Zac Brown (9-0) by hd, 6 ran.
Gracious John (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Caspian Prince (9-2) at Doha 6f gd in Feb.
Kimberella 11-2 (9-12) In touch in rear, switched to centre entering final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead final 75 yards, won going away, won at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Mar beating Bowson Fred (9-9) by 1l, 7 ran.
Lancelot Du Lac (ITY) 4-1 (9-3) With leader, ridden 1f out, kept on and every chance final furlong, just held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Royal Birth (9-0) at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Mythmaker 16-1 (9-0) Soon led, driven over 1f out, ran on, headed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Lancelot Du Lac (9-0) at Lingfield 6f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Pretend (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, driven inside final 2f, ridden and hung left 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, not pace to reach leaders, 5th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Royal Birth (9-0) at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Realize 10-1 (9-3) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, faded final furlong, 7th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Salateen (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
Royal Birth 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Lingfield 5f lst stks (1) pol in Feb beating Lancelot Du Lac (9-3) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sign of The Kodiac (IRE) 9-2 (9-10) Prominent, 2nd halfway, pushed along and progress to lead 1f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 6f pol in Mar beating Gordon Lord Byron (10-3) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Verne Castle 5-2fav (9-9) Close up, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, faded towards finish, 6th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Kimberella (9-12) at Lingfield 5f hcp (2) pol in Mar.
