tracked leaders 7f
slowly away, headway 8f out, ridden and weakened 3f out
pulled hard, held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
in touch, led over 2f out to over 1f out, one pace final furlong
keen, held up in rear, headway from 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on
held up, smooth headway from over 2f out, shaken up to lead inside final furlong, pushed out
tracked leader, led over 3f out to over 2f out, weakened
raced in rear, headway approaching final furlong, never nearer
Maxilla gets the call over Peruvia, with Grey Clouds, Rani Two and Spark Up other interesting contenders. With most of the principals having their first outings of the current campaign, a little bit of guesswork is required to find the winner, but with Maxilla having opened her account on Lingfield's Polytrack in November, she might just be that bit sharper. Luca Cumani's filly was tried over various trips before coming good over a mile and a quarter, digging deep to beat the favourite Margery Daw, and those battling qualities will come in handy if this develops into a struggle in the soft ground. Peruvia, third to Summitville on her Newmarket debut, was highly tried as a youngster, and after a fruitless campaign over hurdles, may appreciate the switch back to the Flat and will be fitter than most. So will Grey Clouds, a winner in soft ground in the past, and who will be sharper for a pipe-opener behind Calatagan at Beverley recently. Spark Up scored at Wolverhampton last week but has more to do, and of the reappearing Polar Jem and Rani Two, preference is for the latter, a winner four times last term. In a tricky contest for betting purposes, Maxilla is a tentative choice.
