in touch, headway over 3f out, ridden and kept on one pace
taken to post early, dwelt in rear, ridden halfway, outpaced 4f out
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden to press winner 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on gamely
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Mickael Barzalona prefers Ennistown to Altruism, who missed the whole of last year. The former is 4lb higher than his win at Pontefract in September while Border Legend was upped 5lb for winning a lesser event at Nottingham in October. Ajman Bridge will be winning this year but may just need this and SOVIET ROCK is preferred. The latter has the advantage of a recent outing and it was a good one too, as he finished third to Sennockian Star at Epsom. He looks more favourably handicapped than Blue Surf on that evidence and gets the nod.
Ennistown 4-1fav (9-5) Keen close up, headway over 3f out, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded final furlong, 7th of 12, 7l behind Thomas Hobson (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.
Uramazin (IRE) 66-1 (9-5) Dwelt, always in rear, last of 12, 12l behind Grandeur (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f cnd stks (4yo+) (2) pol in Apr.
Blue Surf 7-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Gospel Choir (10-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp 105 (2) gd in Sep.
Altruism (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Made virtually all, clear over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (4) gf in Aug '12 beating Tarikhi (9-3) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Soviet Rock (IRE) 9-2fav (8-11) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Sennockian Star (9-1) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gs in Apr.
Ajman Bridge 7-2 (9-3) Tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd place inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Stepping Ahead (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) sft in Oct.
Border Legend 12-1 (8-9) Always towards rear, 16th of 23, 44l behind Conduct (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Luhaif 20-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 12, 20l behind Tobacco Road (9-6) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Apr.
