held up, in touch, effort 2f out, challenged 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, driven out
took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, on outside under pressure and no impression when hung left over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
chased leaders, led on inside 3f out, strongly pressed when edged left and headed inside final furlong, kept on
chased leader, challenged 3f out, ridden over 2f out, unable to quicken final furlong
soon close up in 3rd, pushed along 5f out, weakened and behind final 3f, tailed off
led, ridden and headed 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off
In a difficult finale perhaps ASK THE ORACLE is worth chancing, although in Charging Indian and Slick Mover he faces two potent rivals. The four-year-old got off the mark at the sixth time of asking when landing a course and distance maiden last time. That wasn't necessarily the strongest contest in the world but the way money came for Hughie Morrison's charge suggested plenty was expected and he didn't disappoint. Taking on seasoned rivals from this mark of 65 will be by no means easy but he likes it here, the trip is seemingly ideal and he's unexposed, so we'll take him to improve past the likes of Charging Indian. The last-named comes in search of the course and distance hat-trick and has strong claims of doing so, despite the fact that the handicapper is trying to subdue this gelding. As with our pick, conditions are set to be ideal and none arrive in better form. Slick Mover does however arrive in search of his own hat-trick and Brendan Powell's charge must be given claims. His last two wins have come over a furlong further at Kempton but if he acts on Fibresand the trip won't be an issue, so plenty will give him the chance to show he goes here and understandably so. Our preference however is to stick with the course winners who could just foil this one today. Of the remainder General Tufto has claims of sorts as a versatile course specialist who arrives in form. He's won over this trip but might just be slightly better at around a mile and a mark of 68 leaves little room for manouevre, so we'll look elsewhere. Mullitovermaurice has something to find with Charging Indian despite a 5lb turnaround in the weights, Miss Christophene doesn't look to be crying out for this step up in trip and has questions to answer at present whilst Drum Major has been off the track for a while, hasn't tried Southwell and wasn't in the best form when last seen. All in all this race is best left to the two last-time-out course winners, with Ask The Oracle potentially representing the better value of that pair.
Charging Indian (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Held up, headway to chase clear leader 6f out, led 2f out, ridden hung left and stayed on final furlong, won at Southwell 1m 3f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs beating Bosamcliff (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
General Tufto 6-1 (8-13) Towards rear and outpaced, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Trans Sonic (8-8) at Southwell 1m hacp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Slick Mover (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, challenged on outside 2f out, ridden and sustained run from over 1f out, stayed on to lead final strides, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan beating Ardmaddy (8-10) by hd, 14 ran.
Miss Christophene (IRE) 18-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 11l behind Camerooney (7-13) at Southwell 1m hacp 0-70 (5) fbs in Jan.
Ask The Oracle 15-8fav (9-3) Led, headed over 9f out, remained prominent, ridden 2f out, edged left and led entering final furlong, driven out, won at Southwell 1m 3f mdn stks (5) fbs in Jan beating Dubai Creek (9-3) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Drum Major (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 12, 35l behind Crocus Rose (8-11) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Mullitovermaurice 25-1 (8-10) Close up, ridden over 3f out, weakend over 1f out, 4th of 6, 8l behind Charging Indian (9-7) at Southwell 1m 3f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs.
