tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3f out, driven over 1f out, headed towards finish
led 1f, tracked leaders after, driven and lost place over 6f out
held up, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, in rear, ran wide bend after 2f, steady headway on outside from over 3f out, shaken up inside final furlong to lead towards finish
held up, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
led after 1f, ridden and headed 3f out, rallied to have every chance over 1f out, kept on
in touch, pushed along from over 8f out, driven and under strong pressure 3f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
headway to track leaders 8f out, effort over 3f out, weakened 1f out
Mahmjra gets a tentative vote over Lady Romanov, with Velvet Valley and William's Way worth a mention. Mahmjra has won two of his last three starts, including at Lingfield last time. He is equally effective over today's course-and-distance, still looks well treated, and should go close. Lady Romanov has not been seen since hacking up at Lingfield last July, but if anywhere near fit rates a big danger, while Velvet Valley lost his chance by racing wide into the straight on his last start, and is better judged on earlier efforts. William's Way has been absent since being touched off here in December and is also worth noting, as he hung badly near the finish and with stronger handling would probably have won. All in all, this is a hard one to call, with just a small vote going to Mahmjra.
Cordier 33-1 (8-11) Held up behind leaders, driven over 2f out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 27l behind Tannenberg (8-8) at Pontefract 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in May.
Fixateur (9-4) Led, no extra when headed over 1f out, 4th of 9, 7l behind Crabapple (9-4) at Clairefontaine 1m 6f stk gd in Aug '05.
Lady Romanov (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) In touch, chased leaders 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Lingfield 1m 4f 3yo hcp (6) gf in Jul beating La Via Ferrata (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
William's Way 12-1 (9-2) Held up towards rear, smooth headway 4f out, led over 2f out, ridden and hung badly left over 1f out, caught post, 2nd of 9, nk behind Zed Candy (8-2) at Southwell 1m 3f hcap (5) fbs in Dec.
Velvet Valley (USA) 4-1co-fav (8-9) Raced wide, held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Turner's Touch (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f app hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Mahmjra 11-2 (8-3) Made all, set strong pace, clear over 2f out, pressed entering final furlong, stayed on well, won at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) fbs in Mar beating Black Falcon (8-10) by 1l, 10 ran.
Bolckow 5-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 8th of 10, 13l behind Velvet Valley (9-0) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
Stolen Glance 16-1 (8-2) Slowly into stride, soon ridden and always in last place, last of 10, 36l behind Mahmjra (8-3) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) fbs in Mar.
