started slowly, always behind
held up, headway on inner over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
led, ridden and headed 2f out, one pace final furlong
in touch, driven over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
prominent, driven over 2f out, soon beaten
held up behind leaders, led 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
never better than mid-division
towards rear, headway 2f out, never near to challenge
mid-division, driven over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
behind, pushed along halfway, headway on inner over 2f out, never on terms
mid-division, pushed along halfway, effort over 2f out, no impression
always in rear division
prominent, ridden over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on
Speed Dial Harry gets our vote ahead of mainly Dragon Slayer and Elrafa Mujahid. The selection has improved for a step up in trip to win twice in quick succession over course and distance. If he takes his chance again then connections must clearly feel he holds solid claims again and we'll go with that view. Elrafa Mujahid made a winning start for new connections when scoring over course and distance two runs ago and, although disappointing last time, she should not be written off just yet. Being just a pound above a winning Turf mark - and coming into this race following a fair run at Wolverhampton - it would be no surprise to see Dragon Slayer go well. Turning to the others, and African Sahara, who is just two pounds above a winning mark, is well weighted based on 2004 Turf form, Orpen Wide holds claims if at his best, Forest Of Love could yet remain well-weighted following a cosy win in a modest Wolverhampton race last time, the well-weighted-on-old form Pagan Prince could go well following his Spanish sojourn, and Samuel Charles could remain competitively weighted under his penalty based on his Wolverhampton win last time. The overall verdict is that it is quite a tricky race, with the selection, if he takes his chance, being Speed Dial Harry.
Dragon Slayer (IRE) 9-4fav (8-13) Led, ridden over 1f out, soon headed, weakened inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Consonant (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Indebted 10-1 (8-10) Held up behind leaders, driven over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 8, 31l behind Kylkenny (9-5) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Speed Dial Harry (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) In touch, led over 1f out, headed inside last, rallied to lead near finish, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) std beating Mister Benji (8-9) by a hd, 14 ran.
Lord Links (IRE) 10-3fav (9-4) Soon led, ridden, headed 3f out, no impression, 6th of 13, 6l behind Elrafa Mujahid (8-13) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Nov.
Corky (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Held up towards rear, ridden along 3f out, headway 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Deeper In Debt (9-1) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Forest of Love 4-1 (8-11) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Sept beating Benny The Bus (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Paso Doble 15-2 (8-9) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, never near to challenge, 7th of 14, 10l behind Byron Bay (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Samuel Charles 13-2 (8-13) Broke well, mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon edged right, ran on, won at W'hampton 7f app hcp (6) std beating Alpaga Le Jomage (9-6) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
