chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon no impression
always prominent, led over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, held on gamely under pressure
led, ridden when headed over 1f out, soon rallied and every chance, no extra close home
chased leaders, soon outpaced, lost place over 3f out
held up in touch, headway to chase leader halfway, every chance inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, chased leaders, carried wide over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
Withdrawn
Red Tide beat Musical Molly a head over track and trip in November and that pair are hard to separate re-opposing on similar terms today. But SHADES OF SILK finished well ahead of Speightowns Kid when runner-up here last month and the dual course and distance winner looks set to go in again. Putin is never easily dismissed at this level but Lees Anthem has yet to show his best on the Fibresand and Cadeaux Pearl is struggling for form.
Musical Molly (IRE) 9-4 (9-7) In touch, outpaced and dropped to rear over 3f out, 7th of 9, 12l behind Lucky Mark (8-8) at Southwell 6f hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Nov.
Red Tide (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Prominent, led over 2f out, joined inside final furlong, driven and ran on gamely, won at Southwell 6f hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Nov beating Musical Molly (9-7) by hd, 12 ran.
Shades of Silk 9-1 (8-10) Led 1f, tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Razin' Hell (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Putin (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Prominent, led 3f out, ridden when headed entering final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Best Tamayuz (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp (0-65) (6) fbs in Dec.
Speightowns Kid (USA) 8-1 (8-5) In touch in rear, headway on outer to chase leaders halfway, soon ridden, no impression final furlong, 4th of 9, 5l behind Razin' Hell (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Cadeaux Pearl 14-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, weakening when lost action over 1f out, virtually pulled up, last of 11, 40l behind Monarch Maid (8-9) at Ripon 6f all hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Sep.
Lees Anthem 12-1 (9-11) Overall lead on near side rail, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 20, 1l behind Amis Reunis (8-12) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gf in Jun.