slowly into stride, rushed up to join leader, every chance well over 1f out, stayed on well closing stages
behind, headway over 1f out, chased leaders entering final furlong, kept on well under pressure, nearest finish
led, soon joined, driven well over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, held up towards rear but in touch, headway on inside over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
took keen hold in touch, effort over 1f out, never on terms
tracked leaders, progress on inside to lead over 1f out, hard ridden when challenged entering final furlong, headed closing stages, no extra
tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out
Amanto is a rare runner on the Flat for a leading jumps trainer Paul Nicholls and is relatively unexposed under this code having won a maiden in seven previous starts on the level. But RULER OF THE NILE (NAP) is equally proficient on this surface as he is at Southwell, where he won over today's trip by seven lengths on his latest outing. He can shrug off a penalty in this and is preferred to course and distance winner Guards Chapel with the latter still looking high enough in the weights. Thomas Blossom and Opera Buff look best of the rest with the former tackling 2m for the first time today.
Amanto (GER) 10-1 (11-9) Held up in touch in 4th, shaken up 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before next, 7th of 8, dist behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-10) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Thomas Blossom (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 1/4l behind Percella (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
The Scourge (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Soon well behind, last of 3, dist behind Cyrus Darius (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f (3) gs in Sep.
Takeitfromalady (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Towards rear, last and struggling before 3 out, last of 11, dist behind McKenzie's Friend (10-12) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Nov.
Opera Buff 7-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace and no impression, 4th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Trending (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Topaling 16-1 (9-7) In touch, pushed along and lost place 7f out, 9th of 10, dist behind Edgar (9-8) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Ruler Of The Nile 11-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders on inside, led over 3f out, clear over 2f out, eased heavily towards finish, won at Southwell 2m hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Northside Prince (9-10) by 7l, 6 ran.
Flighty Filia (IRE) 11-10fav (9-2) Tracked leader, hampered slightly on bend over 8f out, ridden 4f out, weakened quickly over 3f out, last of 9, dist behind Tarakkom (8-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Guards Chapel 9-2 (9-13) Dropped out start, held up in last and behind, headway on inside over 2f out, pressed for 2nd 1f out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, no extra well inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Tarakkom (8-2) at Kempton 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
