tracked leader, led after 12th, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra, kept on under pressure and held on for 2nd flat
led, blundered 2nd, stayed prominent, weakened after 2 out
held up, headway and led after 5th, headed after 12th, weakened under pressure before 2 out
always behind, lost touch after 10th, tailed off
held up, mistake 4th, headway 13th, led approaching last, ridden out flat
tracked leaders to 13th, hard ridden and outpaced before 2 out, kept on again after last, just held for 2nd
Mark Equal takes a drop in class and can give the in-form Pipe yard another winner, with Polar Scout and the reappearing Sir Talbot the two main dangers on past form. Mark Equal lost his form completely after a fall last spring, but has been coaxed back this term, and was given a great ride by Timmy Murphy to land the Lionel Vick at Newbury in November, waited with before settling the issue late on. However, he has been found out again in two subsequent outings against good opposition, and meets nothing of the calibre of Supreme Prince, winner of Mark Equal's last engagement at Newbury. This small field of slower animals should enable Timmy Murphy to settle his mount nicely before making his move and he can get back to winning ways. Sir Talbot took on good company last season but is making a belated return and will strip fitter for the run, while Polar Scout bids to atone for a luckless run at Plumpton where a bad mistake at the last probably cost him the race. Jack Fuller has shaped well on both starts this term but his Hereford conqueror Jupon Vert was beaten at the weekend, and with Kety Star a bit one-paced to date, Mark Equal is taken to beat Polar Scout.
