led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, took closer order halfway, under pressure over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, hard ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead well inside final furlong
Black Iceman was runner-up in an apprentices' race over 1m6f at Wolverhampton on Monday but the grey tends to reserve his best for that track. Novel Dancer won at Kempton last month but was due to run there yesterday and it's hard to fancy Artisan, Yasir and Olymnia on recent form. ALDO was only headed close home at Wolverhampton in November. He may just have needed that run and, though absent again since, has the ability to win a race like this if lasting home. Born To Reign is still a maiden but started favourite when third at Wolverhampton last month and is a pound lower here.
Aldo 4-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out, ridden 3f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Well Owd Mon (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) in Nov.
Artisan 14-1 (8-11) Held up and behind, headway and switched right over 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 6l behind Shalambar (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Yasir (USA) 12-1 (9-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway 7f out, switched outside over 5f out, soon outpaced, stayed on into modest 4th over 1f out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 13, 13l behind Rock of Ages (9-11) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
Black Iceman 8-1 (8-11) Led, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind The Yank (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f app hcp 0-60 (6).
Olymnia 12-1 (8-9) Towards rear, headway into mid-division over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to take modest 4th inside final furlong, no chance with leaders, 4th of 10, 12l behind Feb Thirtyfirst (9-0) at Lingfield 2m sll hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Born To Reign 3-1fav (8-8) Chased leaders, effort when hung left under pressure approaching final furlong, never a threat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Mazij (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (0-55) (6) in Jan.
Novel Dancer 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, led well over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong and always doing enough, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Jan beating Lucky Dottie (8-8) by 1/2l, 14 ran.