chased leaders, ridden and lost place 5th, some headway 3 out, weakened 2 out
always prominent, reminders and went 2nd 4th, ridden when left in lead 3 out, clear 2 out, unchallenged
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden when left 2nd and slightly hampered 3 out, no impression from 2 out
chased leader until 4th, ridden and weakened 6th
held up, saddle slipped 3rd, behind from 5th, tailed off
led, 2 lengths ahead when fell 3 out
Scotland Yard is likely to be popular with backers and has to be respected but David Pipe's gelding is far from certain to appreciate the underfoot conditions and he looks worth taking on with preference for Cosmologist, who gets the vote ahead of Khachaturian. The last mentioned, a middle distance winner on the flat in Ireland, made a pleasing debut over hurdles for Don McCain prior to a disappointing effort at Haydock last month. He is probably better than that latest start would suggest and has to be respected. Mystified has claims on the pick of his form but that is generally on a faster surface than this, while Henrietta Knight's French import Plume d'Oudairies may need more time. Midnight Diamond needs to improve on all known form and a safer option looks to be Charlie Egerton's Cosmologist, who has shown progressive form and is likely to be better suited by the ground than most of his rivals.
Beauty One 5-4fav (10-12) Led after 6f, ridden approaching 3f, driven out, won at Ayr 1m 6f nhf (6) sft in Nov beating Duke of Malfi (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching next, one pace when hit last, 3rd of 9, 20l behind Storm Prospect (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Scotland Yard (UAE) 15-8 (10-12) Led at good pace, clear when hit 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 15, 13l behind Punjabi (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Tirol Livit (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 13, 41l behind Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Hexham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Nov.
Plume d'Oudairies (FR) 16-1 (10-5) Keen hold, tracked leader 4th to approaching 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Poquelin (10-12) at Kempton 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Cosmologist (USA) 14-1 (11-0) Led, clear 5th, reduced lead before last, joined last, soon headed, kept on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Gracechurch (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Khachaturian (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Raced keen, led, not fluent 2nd, ridden and mistake 3 out, soon headed and weakened, last of 5, 33l behind Grand Bleu (11-8) at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Mystified (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 15, 19l behind Poker De Sivola (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
