held up behind, headway on outer from 3rd, ridden before last, kept on to lead final 100 yards
led, headed after 1st, led again before 4 out, pressed 2 out, headed final 100 yards, kept on
in touch, headway before 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden before last, no extra from last
prominent, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
took keen hold, led after 1st, raced wide and headed before and blundered 4 out, quickly weakened, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, pushed along before 3 out and headway, one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
An interesting opener and it would be no surprise to see a big run from newcomer Rain Mac, who cost 38,000gns at the October sales and was a decent handicapper for John Gosden up to 1m4f on the Flat. The experience of FOURTH ESTATE could be the deciding factor, however, as he scored despite running green at Folkestone in January and should improve again on today's quicker surface. Netherby was a wide-margin winner at Lingfield on just his second start over timber and should go well again but former Lincoln winner Smokey Oakey seems on the downgrade nowadays and All That Remains disappointed at Sedgefield last time.
Fourth Estate (IRE) 4-5fav (11-4) Chased leading pair until dropped to 4th before 3 out, slightly outpaced next, rallied on inside on long run to last, led soon after, idled and driven after last, stayed on to assert final 140 yards, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Avoca Promise (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Netherby 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led before next, drew clear between last 2, very easily, won at Lingfield 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb beating Diamond Life (11-2) by 16l, 17 ran.
Smokey Oakey (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 13, 14l behind No Planning (11-0) at Wetherby 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
All That Remains (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) In touch, joined leader after 6th, every chance on outside 3 out, ridden and outpaced by leading pair approaching next, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 8, 26l behind Alpha Victor (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Bellapais Abbey (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, no impression, 5th of 15, 17l behind Kaysersberg (10-11) at Doncaster 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Optimist (GER) 50-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, niggled along 8f out, chased winner over 3f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind The Hollinwell (10-8) at Southwell 2m n h flat (6) std in Feb.
Rain Mac 6-1 (9-0) Raced wide mid-division, ridden 3f out, never on terms, 10th of 15, 4l behind Barbican (9-7) at Ascot 1m 4f Handicap (Heritage) (3yo) (2) gd in Sep (flat).
