awkward start, held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened close home
tracked leader, effort 3f out, weakened over 2f out
always prominent, led over 2f out, soon challenged, stayed on well
held up, ridden and outpaced over 3f out, soon weakened
held up in rear, never dangerous
held up, driven and headway over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, kept on towards finish
soon led, quickened over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Buster Hyvonen gets the call ahead of Power Of Future and Annambo. Whispering Death's Cesarweitch sixth on the back of a promising season last time around suggest that he can be competitive from around today's type of mark. First-time cheekpieces would have to help Country Pursuit turn the clock back to 2005 if he is to win. Power Of Future came good on the all-weather at the backend of last year and should have more to come on Turf, while the Barney Curley-trained Zabeel Palace has to be considered if there is a market move. Mersey Sound comes good in his turn, while Buster Hyvonen won twice over hurdles during the winter and, a winner last season, his mark, to us, looks fair at present and he can go well. Annambo is another with claims on his best form and Jeepstar has the added bonus of being fit and he too races from a mark from which he can be competitive. Once again, though, the vote goes to Buster Hyvonen.
Whispering Death 14-1 (8-4) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, stayed on approaching final furlong, 6th of 31, 4l behind Detroit City (9-1) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcap (2) gs in Oct.
Country Pursuit (USA) 9-2 (9-4) Held up, headway on outer 7f out and in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and hung left, 9th of 10, 20l behind Eva Soneva So Fast (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Power of Future (GER) 5-2fav (9-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov beating Eastborough (9-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
Zabeel Palace 12-1 (9-0) Steadied start, always rear, under pressure 4f out, soon struggling and tailed off, last of 11, 34l behind I Have Dreamed (9-1) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Mersey Sound (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, some headway over 4f out, weakened 3f out, soon eased, 12th of 16, 44l behind Dr Sharp (9-7) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gs in Oct.
Buster Hyvonen (IRE) 10-11fav (9-7) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 3, 2l behind Hazelnut (8-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (6) gs in Oct.
Annambo 6-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, driven to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Haatmey (9-2) at Newmarket 1m 7f hcap (5) gf in Jun.
Jeepstar 7-2 (9-12) Keen, chased leader until 6f out, ridden and beaten 4f out, 4th of 7, well behind Rule For Ever (8-13) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Mar.
