raced stands side, tracked leaders, ridden and effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
raced stands side, in touch, led that group over 2f out, hung right over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
raced far side, held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, soon one pace
raced far side, chased winner, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon faded
raced stands side, tracked leaders, ridden and led stands side group inside final furlong, stayed on, no chance with far side
raced stands side, chased leaders, effort and hung right over 1f out, soon weakened
raced stands side, upset in stalls, always behind, eased well over 1f out
raced stands side, held up, never dangerous
raced far side, slowly into stride, held up, some headway over 2f out, never dangerous
raced far side, slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 2f out
raced far side, chased winner, effort over 2f out, soon faded
led stands side group, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
raced far side, held up, some headway over 1f out, stayed on, never nearer
raced stands side, in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
raced far side, held up in touch, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon weakened
raced far side, behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on, never nearer
This looks a race to treat with considerable caution as most of the runners are making their first start as three-year-olds and what can only be a tentative choice goes to Giganticus, who gets the vote ahead of The Snatcher and Obe Brave. The selection has only had the two starts so far and came back well having suffered with ringworm when scoring at Haydock when last seen in September. Today's trip of seven furlongs should suit ideally and he looks the best call in a trappy affair. Rubenstar won two races in the autumn and has to be respected on his return but the Mark Tompkins-trained gelding may need a run or two to put him spot on. Regal Royale has plenty of weight to carry and Sir Michael Stoute's horses have yet to hit top form so a bigger threat may come from Marriage Value, who won first time out last term and showed promise first time out again this season. Savernake Blue comes from a yard that has started the season in decent form so has to be respected along with stablemate Obe Brave, who could be anything after just he one start. The Snatcher is more exposed than most but is entitled to be thereabouts; however, Giganticus is open to plenty of improvement and he gets the vote.
Regal Royale 7-4fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 9l behind Palace Episode (8-13) at York 7f 2yo lst stk (1) gd in Aug.
Giganticus (USA) 15-8fav (9-0) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, driven to lead and edged left over 1f out, ran on well, won at Haydock 6f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Sept beating Erytheis (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Layazaal (IRE) 5-2 (8-13) Slowly into stride, keen, held up in touch, headway to chase leader over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 3l behind Mulaqat (8-13) at Leicester 7f 2yo stk (4) gf in Oct.
The Snatcher (IRE) 5-2 (8-6) Held up, pushed along halfway, headway when not clear run over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, nk behind Fullandby (9-8) at Newmarket 6f 2yo & 3yo stk (4) sft in Oct.
Obe Brave 12-1 (9-0) Towards rear, soon driven along, headway over 2f out, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at York 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Muzher (9-0) by a nk, 12 ran.
Cape of Luck (IRE) 33-1 (8-11) Dwelt, towards rear, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 13, 7l behind Kingsgate Prince (8-11) at Lingfield 7f 3yo lst stk (1) pol in Mar.
Red Cape (FR) 2-1fav (9-5) Keen, chased leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon hung left, headed, no extra near finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Before You Go (8-12) at Lingfield 1m nov stk (4) pol in Dec.
Marriage Value (IRE) 3-1 (8-8) Held up, headway over 1f out, led briefly inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 5, 2l behind South Cape (8-13) at Southwell 7f 3yo stk (3) hvy in Mar.
Savernake Blue 8-15fav (9-0) Held up, headway on inside over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, kept on, won at Catterick 7f 2yo mdn aut (6) gd in Oct beating Best Double (8-9) by 2l, 10 ran.
Lake Poet (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace after, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Trans Sonic (9-3) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp (4) pol.
Sivivatu (USA) 7-2fav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace from over 1f out, 5th of 12, 2 1/2l behind River Thames (8-13) at Newmarket 6f 2yo hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Levera 15-8 (9-0) Made all, ridden and ran on final furlong, won at Leicester 6f 2yo mdn (4) gs in Jul beating Aeroplane (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
John Keats 11-2 (9-6) Made all, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well towards finish, won at Pontefract 6f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct beating Chase The Ace (8-12) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Collateral Damage (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leader far side, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 21, 8l behind Ordnance Row (9-6) at Doncaster 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Nov.
Glenmuir (IRE) 50-1 (8-7) Raced far side, held up, never dangerous, 17th of 30, 6l behind Murfreesboro (8-13) at Newmarket 6f 2yo aut (2) gd in Sept.
Rubenstar (IRE) 9-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, smooth headway when not clear run and switched 2f out, tracked leader, driven to lead final furlong, soon clear, won at Goodwood 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct beating Heaven Can Wait (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Dame Hester (IRE) 7-4 (8-9) Always prominent, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Lingfield 1m 3yo mdn (5) pol in Feb beating Rose Muwasim (8-9) by a nk, 11 ran.
Blades Girl 25-1 (8-0) With leader far side, led that group and overall leader over 1f out, hung left and headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 30, 3/4l behind Murfreesboro (8-13) at Newmarket 6f 2yo aut (2) gd in Sept.
