steadied start, pulled hard, held up in rear on rail, switched right to wide outside 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, ridden to narrow lead inside final furlong, soon driven and ran on, headed post
chased leaders on outside, pushed along halfway, chased winner inside final 2f until over 1f out, no extra final furlong
led on rail, headed 2f out, soon beaten
pressed leader, ridden to lead 2f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, rallied gamely to lead again post
took keen hold, chased leaders over 4f
Perfect Pastime crept up the weights without winning last year and stablemate Regal Approval may need a bit more leniency from the handicapper before he's adding to 2010's maiden victory. Speak The Truth may have done his winning for the time being as he's failed to figure since landing a double on the Polytrack in January, but Earlsmedic had Roodee Queen behind when third at Kempton last time and he should be thereabouts. With doubts about most of his rivals, a chance is taken that SEEKING MAGIC begins this season as he ended the last one, given he scored a shade cosily at Bath in October and there should be more to come this year.
Seeking Magic 11-4fav (9-3) Dwelt, soon chased leaders, led 1f out, ridden and pressed inside final furlong, held on well, won at Bath 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct beating Mount Hollow (8-7) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Perfect Pastime 20-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on towards finish, 4th of 17, 1 1/2l behind Amenable (9-5) at Pontefract 5f hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Local Singer (IRE) 28-1 (9-6) Keen close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Lastkingofscotland (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Kingswinford (IRE) 9-2 (8-5) Held up in touch, outpaced halfway, stayed on over 1f out, never able to challenge, 5th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Bawaardi (8-13) at Wolverhampton 7f clm stks (6) pol in Dec.
Roodee Queen 16-1 (9-0) Led until over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 4 1/2l behind Another Try (9-4) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Regal Approval 11-2fav (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead narrowly inside final 2f, headed final 110 yards, kept on, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Celtic Sultan (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Sep.
Earlsmedic 11-2 (8-12) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon headed, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Clear Praise (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Speak The Truth (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Keen and handy, ridden 2f out, hung left and kept on one paced final furlong, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Catherines Call (9-0) at Lingfield 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.