prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven and no extra final furlong
mid-division, effort over 1f out, briefly short of room, no extra inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 3f out, challenged over 1f out, kept on final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, soon driven and weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon driven and weakened
held up, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, challenged over 1f out, kept on final furlong
mid-division, headway 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, kept on
held up, ridden 2f out, every chance approaching final furlong, not quicken inside final furlong
prominent, ridden to lead briefly over 2f out, driven headed and weakend inside final furlong
slowly into stride and behind, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace final furlong
soon led, ridden and headed over 2f out, driven and weakened final furlong
Yet another competitive race that is a riddle for punters but LADDIES POKER TWO looks on the upward curve and can confirm that with a win now stepped up to this grade, while Silver Touch is very much respected. The selection has come on in each of three runs to date and was a very comfortable winner of a decent Ascot handicap last time. She is bred to have plenty of speed and the yard remains in good shape so we'll give her the nod. Silver Touch has been contesting better races than this and has plenty of form that marks her out as a leading player, though she has tended to need a run after a break, and that is the case here. Red Dune has gone close in Listed and Group company lately and is respected, though the drop back in trip is not certain to suit. Angus Newz is a likeable sort but has a very difficult task at these weights, while Perfect Flight is worth a try at this level, though she may just come up short on class. A better proposition may be Medicea Sidera, who has been trying to make all over 7f and is worth a try back at this trip for the first time, but Laddies Poker Two is the one for us.
Angus Newz 3-1fav (8-12) Led, joined and headed after 2f, led again and edged left over 1f out, headed just inside final furlong, soon not much room, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Masada (8-8) at Newmarket 6f fll hcp (2) gf.
How's She Cuttin' (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Bumped start and behind, ridden over 2f out, switched right, driven final furlong, kept on, 5th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Hotham (9-1) at Musselburgh 5f hcap (2) gs.
Medicea Sidera 16-1 (8-13) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out and edged left, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Meydan Princess (8-10) at Ascot 7f lst fll stk (1) gd in Sept.
Silver Touch (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Steadied start, settled behind in touch, ridden over 2f out, no headway over 1f out, 5th of 9, 8l behind Edge Closer (9-4) at Salisbury 6f lst stk (1) gd in Jun.
Topflightcoolracer 18-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Mullein (9-5) at Warwick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Vital Statistics 25-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, stayed on well from over 1f out, 5th of 16, 5l behind Meydan Princess (8-10) at Ascot 7f lst fll stk (1) gd in Sept.
Bastakiya (IRE) 4-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, effort when not much room from over 1f out, squeezed through just inside final furlong to press winner, ridden, ran on, always held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Masada (8-8) at Newmarket 6f fll hcp (2) gf.
Ethaara 7-1 (8-10) Mid-division, headway 2f out, soon one pace, 7th of 16, 6l behind Meydan Princess (8-10) at Ascot 7f lst fll stk (1) gd in Sept.
Laddies Poker Two (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (8-9) Tracked leaders, always travelling well, led over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, comfortably, won at Ascot 6f 3yo hcp (2) gd in Sept beating Van Bossed (8-12) by 2l, 18 ran.
Masada (IRE) 7-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, driven and challenged inside final furlong, driven and always holding rival, won at Newmarket 6f fll hcp (2) gf beating Bastakiya (8-12) by a hd, 6 ran.
Monaazalah (IRE) 40-1 (8-10) Always in the rear, 12th of 16, 16l behind Meydan Princess (8-10) at Ascot 7f lst fll stk (1) gd in Sept.
Perfect Flight 11-2 (8-10) With leaders, led over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, in command final furlong, won at Goodwood 6f hcap (2) sft in Sept beating Masai Moon (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Red Dune (IRE) 7-2fav (8-10) Led and raced keen, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on, 4th of 12, 1l behind Royal Confidence (8-10) at Doncaster 7f lst stk (1) sft in Sept.
Spinning Lucy (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Prominent to halfway, 15th of 16, 23l behind Meydan Princess (8-10) at Ascot 7f lst fll stk (1) gd in Sept.
Mullein 11-2 (9-5) Always prominent, led over 1f out, ridden and hung right final furlong comfortably, won at Warwick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) sft beating Topflightcoolracer (9-1) by 2l, 12 ran.
