led, quickened pace approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, headed last, no extra flat
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, stayed on to chase winner flat
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, ridden and hung left from 2 out, led last, ran on
held up, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, no impression
Graham Wylie can get his meeting off to the best possible start with Coat Of Honour fancied to get the better of Cornish Sett in the opener. Although Coat Of Honour has sometimes pulled keenly in his races, he has a flawless record over hurdles and had he not made a mistake when two out at Kempton on his latest start, we would surely have beaten Chockdee further than the bare margin suggests. Cornish Sett is sure to be tuned for this given Paul Nicholls' all-out assault on the trainers title. Now dropped in trip and grade following a fourth in a decent Sandown contest, any further rain would not go amiss. Aleron has performed creditably in Northern handicaps. He could be dangerous if allowed a soft time of it up front. Millagros won a weak Musselborough race in a slow time and while needing to find something on the form book, she is in receipt of weight and should be fit from a spin on the flat. A modest turn out for good prize money and it is to Coat Of Honour we award our vote.
Aleron (IRE) 150-1 Mid-division, effort 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, kept on again under pressure flat, 5th of 20, 11l behind Arcalis at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar.
Coat of Honour (USA) 4-1 Held up in 4th, hit 3 out, tracked leader, going easily 2 out when mistake, led before last, driven out run-in, won at Kempton 2m nov hdl (B) gs in Dec beating Chockdee by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 10-3fav Not always fluent, held up in rear, hit 2nd, headway after 3 out, driven to challenge when mistake last, no extra run-in, 4th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Julius Caesar at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Mar.
Millagros (IRE) 13-8fav Held up and mistakes, headway approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on to lead flat, won at Musselburgh 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Jan beating Relix by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
