Just the six runners have been declared for this event but there is quality among the sextet including French import Bagutta Sun, who makes her debut in the UK for new owners the footballer's Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen, but she may have to settle for minor honours on ground this testing with a better bet looking to be confirmed soft ground performer Welsh Emperor, who gets the vote ahead of Souter's Sister. Marco Botti's filly has run well on soft ground before so the ground conditions should not be too much of a problem to her but she has shown improved form on fast ground and on the Polytrack of late so a chance will have to be taken that she can confirm that improved form on going this testing. Paul Cole's Pravda Street won his maiden on soft ground as a three-year-old and races on ground as soft as then for the first time since then today so he has to be considered and makes more appeal than Kingswinford and Ocean Transit, who both go on the ground but have a bit to find with Welsh Emperor. Tom Tate's 11-year-old is a useful performer when the ground is as soft as this and, with the ground to suit, he can make a winning reappearance.
Welsh Emperor (IRE) 22-1 (9-4) Soon led, broke down over 5f out, pulled up quickly, in a race won by Mia's Boy (8-11) at Doncaster 7f cond Stakes (2) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Kingswinford (IRE) 6-1 (8-4) Raced wide in touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 6l behind Spitfire (9-4) at Folkestone 6f hcp 0-85 (4) hvy.
Pravda Street 12-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 15, 33l behind Aldermoor (8-4) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Oct.
Bagutta Sun 3-1 (8-13) 2nd of 3, 2l behind Copperbeech (8-13) at Longchamp(FR) 1m stk gd in Sep '08.
Ocean Transit (IRE) 10-3 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, virtually pulled up over 1f out, last of 5, 50l behind Striker Torres (8-7) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-80 (4) fbs in Jan.
Souter's Sister (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, under pressure well over 2f out, ridden, soon no impression, 8th of 11, 14l behind Dunelight (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f Listed Stakes (4yo+) (1) pol in Mar.
