mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace closing stages
led, driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon lost place
tracked leader, hard driven over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, soon hung left under pressure, ran on well
held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on well final furlong
held up, headway when not clear run over 1f out, soon switched right, ran on into 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner
slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, beaten halfway, eased over 1f out
mid-division, headway on inside over 1f out, soon no impression
Deira Surprise won a handicap over today’s trip at Wolverhampton in December and Harbour Spirit ended last year with a victory in maiden company on the all-weather track at Deauville. Azor Ahai won over 6f at Ripon before well beaten in a Listed contest last summer and is another returning to action while Shanghai Grace arrives in good form bidding for a hat-trick raised in class after winning over track and trip a fortnight ago. But HOWZER BLACK (NAP) found only one too good in this grade at Wolverhampton on his reappearance and first outing since being gelded. Keith Dalgleish’s charge should be thereabouts at the finish with further improvement on the cards and he gets the nod.
Deira Surprise 7-1 (9-10) Chased leader, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 7f (5) pol in Dec beating Coolagh Magic (9-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Harbour Spirit (FR) (9-2) won at Deauville 7f mdn stks pol in Dec beating Sassoon (9-2) by nk, 15 ran.
Azor Ahai 50-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and weakened over 2f out, soon behind, last of 11, 32 1/4l behind Arthur Kitt (9-3) at Ascot 7f lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
Usain Boat (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Shallow Hal (9-9) at Pontefract 6f stks (5) gs in Oct.
Shanghai Grace 7-4fav (9-7) Raced wide in touch, ridden and headway when hung left inside final furlong, straightened and ran on to lead post, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Facethepuckout (9-7) by hd, 6 ran.
Howzer Black (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Held up off the pace, pushed along and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to winner, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Ballistic (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Pacino 20-1 (8-10) Held up in rear, not much room over 2f out or over 1f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 6th of 13, 4l behind Blyton (9-5) at York 5f (3) gd in Oct.
Champagne Marengo (IRE) 4-1cfav (9-1) Chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 10th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Highway To Success (9-3) at Galway 7f mdn Yielding in Aug.
Kapono 25-1 (9-8) Off the pace in 5th, ridden and unable to quicken entering final furlong, kept on towards finish, never nearer, 6th of 9, 2l behind Warning Fire (9-2) at Lingfield 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
