raced wide close up, headway to chase leader 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
raced wide soon led, pushed along and headed approaching 3f out, weakened over 2f out, tailed off
in touch, not clear run and dropped to rear, headway when not clear run approaching final furlong, switched left, kept on
in touch, headway and switched left over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, led approaching 3f out, pushed 2 lengths clear 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened
short of room and stumbled start, in rear, wide in straight 2f out, headway to lead over 1f out, pushed clear inside final furlong
Pearl Spectre has won four times around here but it's taken 32 runs to reach that total. Canimar is 0-27 and, though going close here and at Wolverhampton, his strike-rate hardly inspires confidence. Independence Day is 1-25 on the all-weather, that victory coming here almost three years ago, while Velvet Vista is 0-18. MERCURIST has only had five starts, running easily his best race to date at Kempton earlier this month - Rod Millman's charge has more scope than any of these and looks the one to beat.
Canimar 16-1 (9-7) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Sharrabang (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Fenix 5-1 (9-6) Held up, weakened over 2f out, soon eased, last of 11, 31l behind Jazz Legend (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Habanero Star 9-1 (9-8) Held up, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 9th of 10, 15 1/2l behind Crazy Spin (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Independence Day (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Midfield on inside, switched right and headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 2l behind At Your Service (9-4) at Chelmsford City 6f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Kelinda Dice 40-1 (9-0) Prominent, pushed along and lost ground after 2f out, reminders over 1f out and soon weakened, 7th of 10, 7 1/4l behind My Footsteps (9-0) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Mercurist 100-1 (8-12) Held up, headway when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, kept on towards finish, not pace to challenge, 4th of 10, 2l behind Suns Up Guns Up (9-9) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Pearl Spectre (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Led, headed over 6f out, ridden to lead again approaching final furlong, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Mr Mac (9-9) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Sir Gordon 16-1 (8-12) Outpaced towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 9th of 10, 30 1/4l behind Poetic Lilly (8-8) at Lingfield 1m hcp (6) gd in Sep.
Velvet Vista 10-3 (9-0) Held up just worse than midfield, pushed along and progress over 2f out, kept on over 1f out without matching front pair, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind My Footsteps (9-0) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (6) pol in Jan.
Whistling Sands 6-1 (9-0) Held up in mid-division after 1f, closed on outside final bend, no impression, well beaten from over 1f out, last of 10, 8 1/2l behind At Your Service (9-0) at Wolverhampton 6f stks (6) pol in Jan.
