led 2f, tracked leaders, switched left to track leader entering final 3f, ridden and kept on one pace
raced wide keen close up, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd close home
led after 2f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, lost 2nd close home
in rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor
tracked leader until pushed along entering final 3f, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on
keen in touch in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, not trouble leaders
Nayef Road ended last year with a Listed victory at Newmarket when beating the re-opposing Roberto Escobarr six lengths with a below par Sleeping Lion even further behind. He’s penalised 3lb for that success though can still figure if running up to his mark but RAINBOW DREAMER may edge affairs. The latter bids to win this for the third time in succession having beaten Earlofthecotswolds at Wolverhampton last month and Alan King’s charge gets the nod. The latter was making a belated debut on the Flat last time and is preferred to Zeeband and Leoncavallo of the remainder.
Nayef Road (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Made all, ridden 2f out, ran on, won at Newmarket 2m lst stks (1) gd in Sep beating Roberto Escobarr (9-6) by 6l, 8 ran.
Roberto Escobarr (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along and unable to quicken over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 29 1/4l behind Trueshan (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
Earlofthecotswolds (FR) 9-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, taken back to 4th after 3f, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway to chase winner over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Rainbow Dreamer (9-5) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f stks (2) pol in Jan.
Leoncavallo (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden home turn, pressed leader and every chance before last, not fluent final flight, ran on one pace, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Dorking Boy (10-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Rainbow Dreamer 1-3fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 2m 1f stks (2) pol in Jan beating Earlofthecotswolds (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Sleeping Lion (USA) 8-1 (9-2) Raced with leaders, led 2f out, headed close home, 3rd of 12, hd behind The Way Of Bonnie (9-2) at Deauville 1m 4f lst stks pol in Dec.
Zeeband (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Raced keenly in mid-division, weakened inside final 3f, 11th of 12, 23 3/4l behind Scaramanga (8-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gf in Jul.