held up, raced keenly, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, not reach winner
held up in rear, raced keenly, some headway 2f out, soon no impression
tracked leaders, pressed winner from over 1f out, unable to quicken when lost 2nd towards finish
held up, raced keenly, ridden over 2f out, soon pressing leaders, no extra inside final furlong
slightly awkward start, soon recovered to track leaders racing keenly, led over 1f out, ran on
with leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
pulled hard, narrow lead until over 2f out, soon weakened
AVE is fancied to give Sir Michael Stoute his first success in this race since Notnowcato in 2005. She may have most to fear from Photographic and Good Again. Ave did all that was expected of her on her first two starts but failed to cope with the step up to Pattern company when coming home a disappointing ninth of thirteen in October. That run is probably best ignored as the form of her first two starts has worked out well and she looks to be realistically handicapped. Photographic is feared most following her impressive victory at Kempton despite some mixed performances from those in behind. She's superbly bred so it's no surprise that Listed targets have already been mooted and her yard could hardly be in better form. Shampagne looks vulnerable to that unexposed pair but Baariq could turn out to be a live threat judged by his second to the exciting Nehaam which he followed with a workmanlike success at Warwick. Good Again showed a taking turn of foot to win narrowly at Kempton for which she's gone up by 5lbs. She's proved her effectiveness on grass and certainly has claims from her current perch but Ave is preferred.
Shampagne 8-1 (8-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led inside final 2f, ridden over 1f out, headed final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 9, hd behind Pure Poetry (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3yo Listed stks (1) pol in Apr.
Akhenaten 20-1 (8-13) Tracked leading pair, pushed along to 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 7, 15l behind High Heeled (8-8) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo stk (3) gs in Apr.
Ave 11-2 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 9th of 13, 8l behind Souter's Sister (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 2yo fll Grp 3 (1) gf in Oct.
Good Again 3-1 (9-6) Steadied start, raced strongly and rear, hampered over 1f out, soon switched left, shaken up and quickened to lead near finish, readily, won at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (4) pol in Apr beating Fanditha (9-10) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Photographic 2-1fav (8-9) Slowly into stride, soon recovered into mid-division, switched out and smooth headway 3f out, challenged 2f out, soon edging right and led, pushed out and ran on well final furlong, won at Kempton 1m mdn stks (4) pol in Mar beating Mosqueras Romance (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Gaily Noble (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, headway 2f out, led 1f out, soon ridden, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Dubai Crest (9-1) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Apr.
Baariq 2-1fav (9-0) Made all, hung right under pressure inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Warwick 7f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Sep beating Wilfred Pickles (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
