tracked leaders, led over 3f out, soon clear, easily
held up headway 5 out, weakened 1f out
prominent, raced keen, weakened over 2f out
held up in touch, outpaced 6f out, soon lost place
tracked leaders, keen, led after 3f, headed 6f out, hung left, lost place from over 4f out
held up in rear, effort over 4f out, headway over 3f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, keen, headway 7f out, weakened over 4f out
close up, ridden over 3f out, chased winner final furlong, kept on, no impression
held up, headway over 3f out, one pace, no impression final 2f
in touch, stayed on from over 3f out
towards rear, virtually pulled up over 2f out
led for 3f, led again 6f out, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
In the finale, Alfie Flits gets the call ahead of Wolds Way, Action Strasse and Hot Zone. His trainer rates Alfie Flits as "a good horse", one that might even be good enough to win on the Flat. As such, and even though he carries a double penalty for his bumper wins, he can make them all go again. Insurgent was well behind the selection at Wetherby in December, Wolds Way's debut bumper win brings him firmly into the equation. Howard Johnson's Action Strasse cost 72,000 euros so has to be considered on his racecourse debut, while Cavers Glen is well-related and might go well. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Hot Zone, who cost 68,000 euros, is another to give some thought to, while Triple Deal is another that catches the eye based on pedigree and he hails from a very good yard. Finally, Asrar has hinted at ability, More Equity is out of a dual bumper winner, Over The Odds has plenty of winners in her pedigree and, having finished second to Barton Belle on her Wetherby debut, Ruby Joy is entitled to some support. Overall, though, we will side with Alfie Flits.
Alfie Flits 10-11fav (11-7) Always prominent, led 2 out, soon clear, won at Southwell 2m 4yo nhf (6) gs in Jan beating Ovide (11-0) by 6l, 14 ran.
Insurgent (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, headway over 2f out, never troubled leaders, 7th of 12, 10l behind Tooting (11-0) at Ludlow 1m 6f 4yo nhf (5) gf in Jan.
Action Strasse (IRE) Old Vic gelding out of a lightly-raced mare.
Hot Zone (IRE) Bob Back gelding out of an unraced mare.
Triple Deal Deploy gelding, half-brother to 6f-1m winner Trilogy.
Asrar 8-1 (10-9) In touch, chased leaders over 4f out, no impression over 3f out, 4th of 14, 21l behind Barton Belle (10-12) at Wetherby 1m 6f mrs nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Ruby Joy 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, chased winner over 2f out, one pace, 2nd of 14, 12l behind Barton Belle (10-12) at Wetherby 1m 6f mrs nhf (5) sft in Jan.
Wolds Way 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, led over 3f out, hard pressed final 2f, hung left and kept on towards finish, won at Doncaster 1m 5f nhf (H) gd in Nov beating Tooting (10-12) by 1l, 12 ran.
