mid-division, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, always travelling well, shaken up to lead well inside final furlong, readily
took keen hold, towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed and no extra well inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, mid-division, effort over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
took keen hold, mid-division, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Gold Award won well at Fakenham and gets the vote but Uffa Fox and Fresh Air And Fun have also shown a decent level of form and there are some interesting newcomers to consider. The finale looks competitive. The Flat-bred gelding justified strong market support to run out an impressive winner at the Norfolk track despite running very green. That experience is sure to stand him in good stead and he's an exciting prospect. Fresh Air And Fun ran no race on his reappearance but had looked promising prior to that whilst Uffa Fox's defeat of Hold Em over course and distance entitles him to respect. Puerto Azul makes some appeal on paper but not as much as Conflictofinterest. Paul Nicholls's gelding is a half-brother to Ring The Boss and Theatre Girl and clearly has to be feared but we'll take Gold Award to provide us with a royal finish to the day's proceedings.
Fresh Air And Fun (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Held up, headway over 6f out, weakened quickly over 2f out, 17th of 18, well behind Silly Wupple (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) gd in Oct.
Gold Award 4-7fav (11-5) Soon tracking leader, led over 1f out, ridden clear, won at Fakenham 2m nhf (6) gs in Jan beating Smoke And Mirrors (10-7) by 9l, 9 ran.
Uffa Fox (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, pushed along entering straight, driven and headway towards inside over 1f out, stayed on gamely to lead final stride, won at Ascot 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) gf in Dec beating Hold Em (11-11) by a shd, 10 ran.
Conflictofinterest Saddlers' Hall gelding, half-brother to high-class bumper Diamond Sal and useful hurdler Ring The Boss.
Park Lodge Clerkenwell gelding out of winning hurdler/chaser Gilsan Grey.
Supreme de Paille (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division until weakened over 2f out, 12th of 17, 42l behind Shalone (10-4) at Wincanton 2m nhf (5) gs in Jan.
Ffos Las Diamond (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led 6f out, headed over 3f out, one pace, 5th of 21, 9l behind Sunsetten (10-12) at Doncaster 1m 5f 4yo nhf (5) gd in Jan.
Manyoshu (IRE) Shinko Forest gelding out of 7f winner Poetry.
Puerto Azul (IRE) Beneficial gelding, half-brother to winning hurdler/bumper Mount Sandel.
