started very slowly, always behind
chased leader until ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, effort on inside over 1f out, never troubled leaders
held up, pushed along 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
close up on outside, went 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, one pace inside final furlong
chased leaders, going well on inside 2f out, pushed along and ran on to lead towards finish
slowly into stride, took keen hold and soon in touch, ridden and weakened well over 2f out, tailed off
led, ridden over 1f out, ran on until no extra and headed towards finish
In an ultra-tight handicap HYPNOTIC GAZE shaped like a win shouldn't be long coming last time and we think he can get off the mark here at the expense of course and distance winner Ella Woodcock and last time out scorer Toolentidhaar. Having showed a likeable attitude when just being caught at Southwell last time we feel the pick is just beginning to come into his own. His looked just as good on this surface in the past and with more progress likely he gets the marginal call. Ella Woodcock finally got back on top over a similar trip here in December. She's been competitive off higher marks in the past and she wasn't given a hard time during a solid run last time. Toolentidhaar benefited from a break when returning to score over a mile against her own sex on her last outing. There's probably a little more to come from this one and she'll have every help from her on-form jockey. Seldom has run well with limited returns over seven furlongs recently and will need to show more now upped in trip. Cavendish Road looked good when racing on the grass in the summer and should do well in time for new connections but Hypnotic Gaze looked a winner in waiting last time so has the call.
Ninth House (USA) 28-1 (8-13) Awkward start, held up, always in rear, last of 7, 14l behind Plush (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Toolentidhaar (USA) 33-1 (8-11) Led 1f, taken back to track leaders soon after, ridden over 2f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, won at Kempton 1m fll hcp (0-75) (5) pol in Jan beating Hip Hip Hooray (8-5) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Fandango Boy 18-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, quickly weakened over 2f out, 7th of 9, 14l behind Red Somerset (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Cavendish Road (IRE) 6-1 (9-6) Broke well, soon lost place, only 8th and wide into straight 2f out, soon driven along, ran on well towards finish, not reach leading pair, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Ugenius (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct.
Hypnotic Gaze (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up in touch, led over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 10, hd behind General Tufto (9-0) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Jan.
Ella Woodcock (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, some late headway, never on terms, 5th of 8, 5l behind Bawaardi (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Willie Ever 33-1 (8-11) Refused to race, in a race won by Desert Dreamer (9-3) at Lingfield 7f sell stks (6) pol in Mar, 11 ran.
Seldom (IRE) 9-4 (8-8) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, ridden over 2f out, challenged for 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Smalljohn (8-12) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Sadeek 11-2 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 9l behind Cupid's Glory (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
