held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, no impression
held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, never dangerous
held up towards rear, wide and headway 2f out, ran on final furlong, not reached winner
tracked leaders, chased winner halfway until ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, kept on final furlong, never dangerous
slowly into stride, behind, never dangerous
raced wide, in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace
always towards rear
towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, weakening when short of room 2f out
keen and prominent, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up in rear, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, never nearer
A most competitive renewal of the day's feature event can go the way of Counsel's Opinion, with Corriolanus, Eccentric, Ecomium and Billy Allen just a few lively dangers. Counsel's Opinon has taken well to the artificial surface and is in fact unbeaten in three tries. Chris Wall's charge beat Eccentric over the course and distance last month and although the latter is much improved, he may well have to settle for second best again. Eccentric does like to lead but showed when beating subsequent winner Gig Harbour that he can do it from off the pace. Corriolanus disappointed in this race last year but lines up on the back of a couple of good runs at Nad Al Sheba. Ecomium is the dark horse as he was fancied for the Vodafone Derby last year but had a setback and is reported to have worked well at home. If he has trained on, Jeremy Noseda's charge could easily spreadeagle this useful field. The former Richard Hannon inmate Billy Allen has been a revelation on the all-weather and has won the first two legs of the European All-Weather Series. partnered by Kieren Fallon, he must not be left out of calculations, and nor must Moayed, although he needs to find his best form to trouble the principles. Frankie Dettori rides last year's winner Caluki who lacks a recent run, and so for the winner we return to Counsel's Opinion.
Billy Allen (IRE) Prominent, smooth headway to lead near finish, won at Neuss 1m 1f stk std in Feb beating Grantley by a shd, 10 ran.
Grand Passion (IRE) 7-1 Always in touch, headway to chase leaders from 2f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stk (A1) pol in Nov beating Compton Bolter by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
African Dream 16-1 In touch and hung left early, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Norse Dancer at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 (A) gs in Aug.
Blythe Knight (IRE) 11-2 Raced keenly and held up, effort on outside from 2f out, soon edged left under pressure and beaten, 5th of 14, 12l behind Tiger Tiger at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (C1) sft in Oct.
Caluki 1-4fav 2nd of 5, nk behind Kirikou at Naples 1m stk sft in Mar.
Compton Bolter (IRE) 15-8fav Held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on, 4th of 8, 5l behind Eccentric at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (B1) pol in Feb.
Corriolanus (GER) 11-4fav Towards rear; 11th & ridden straight; headway 400m out; ran on final 200m; nearest finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Collier Hill at Nad Al Sheba 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Counsel's Opinion (IRE) 4-1 Held up last, headway over 2f out, effort to chase leader final furlong, sustained run to lead final 100 yards, readily, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (C1) pol in Feb beating Eccentric by 2l, 10 ran.
Eccentric 5-2 Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden clear entering final furlong, readily, won at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (B1) pol in Feb beating Gig Harbor by 3l, 8 ran.
Ecomium (IRE) 9-2 Tracked leaders in 5th, smooth headway into 2nd entering straight, challenged from 2f out, led briefly under 1f out, soon headed and kept on, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Mikado at Curragh 1m 2f lst stk gs in Oct.
Gig Harbor 11-4fav Made all, quickened clear over 1f out, ridden out, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp (C1) pol beating Cold Turkey by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Howle Hill (IRE) 7-4fav Close up, hampered on rails over 4f out and slightly lost position, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Eccentric at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (C1) pol in Jan.
Hurricane Alan (IRE) 7-2 In touch, effort and every chance 2f out, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Ancient World at Milan 1m Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Moayed 11-10fav Steadied start, going well over 2f out, headway on bit when slightly bumped over 1f out, soon shaken up, ran on well towards finish, 2nd of 7, hd behind Mistral Sky at W'hampton 7f stk (C1) pol.
