keen early, soon tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong
tracked leading pair, ridden 3f out, outpaced by leading pair final 2f, weakened final furlong
dwelt, soon mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, never near leaders
tracked leading pair, ridden 3f out, outpaced by leading pair final 2f, lost 3rd place close home
steadied start, held up in rear, never a factor
always in rear, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
dwelt, keen, held up towards rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, kept on to take moderate 3rd close home
in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3f out
led, ridden 3f out, headed over 1f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong
The well-related BIG BOUND is put forwards ahead of Wadaat and Lennie Brisco. John Gosden's American bred colt didn't fulfil market expectations last season but he may prove capable of doing so this year and his pedigree suggests that he'll be suited by racing on this surface. He steps up in trip but, as a half-brother to Pampas Cat, there's every reason to believe that he can improve for it. Gilded Age is respected on debut but Wadaat may emerge as the biggest threat. Clive Brittain has made a good start to the season and his daughter of Diktat made a pleasing debut at Kempton when staying on well over a mile. Lennie Briscoe was well held on both starts last term but may be the type to fare better at three but he'll need to have made big strides over the winter in order to get the better of Big Bound.
Big Bound (USA) 4-5fav (9-3) Led, driven and headed over 1f, no extra final furlong, 4th of 11, 3l behind Neuchatel (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Charlie Smirke (USA) 7-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 9l behind Premier Banker (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn (5) pol in Dec.
Gilded Age Cape Cross gelding out of Sweet Folly.
Gulf President 5-2 (8-6) Pushed along 7f out, headway over 5f out, one pace final 2f, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Sullenberger (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn aut stk (6) pol.
Hard Ball 20-1 (9-3) Led, headed 2 1/2f out, ridden in 2nd 2f out, no extra in 3rd 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 6l behind Vitruvian Man (9-3) at Curragh 7f 2yo mdn sft in Sept.
Lennie Briscoe (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, staying on when swerved right inside final furlong, 7th of 16, 12l behind Your Old Pal (9-3) at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct.
Solo Choice 5-1 (8-5) Held up, good headway on outside to challenge 3f out, every chance until hung left over 1f out, one pace, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Dubai Storming (8-5) at Kempton 1m 3f mdn aut stk (6) pol in Feb.
Crag Path 50-1 (7-11) Started very slowly, soon towards rear, headway on outside 2f out and edging left, ran on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 4th of 11, 5l behind Thief of Time (8-8) at Lingfield 1m mdn stk (5) pol in Jan.
Red Margarita (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, always behind, 12th of 13, 29l behind Cygnet (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Wadaat 8-1 (8-9) Soon tracking leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Photographic (8-9) at Kempton 1m mdn fll (4) pol.
