prominent, joined leader 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out and kept on gamely flat
prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out
led, reminder approaching 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened flat
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, every chance when hit last, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden and chased leaders 8th, weakened after next
held up last, mistake 1st, jinked left and unseated rider 3rd
chased leader, ridden and led after 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on flat, not much winner
Petitio and Little Al could go well but the ground has come right for BLAZING DESERT and he is taken to score. Alan King's five-year-old finished runner-up on his latest start at Stratford, a welcome return to form, and will be hard to beat if maintaining his upward curve. Petitio remains winless but he does have some fair placed form to his name and this could prove to be his best chance of notching up a first victory. Decent bumper performer Little Al makes most appeal of the rest as the drying ground is in his favour and his yard continue to go well. Upham Atom returns after a long break as does Code but both could need the run. For the winner we can look no further than Blazing Desert.
Blazing Desert 16-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway approaching last, kept on to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Mollys Garden (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Code (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Behind, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Kavatcha (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in May '07, 14 ran.
Little Al 14-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, 5th of 12, 43l behind Alfie Sherrin (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Petito (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out to chase leading pair, ridden after 3 out, soon held, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Dreamy Sweeney (11-1) at Kempton 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Upham Atom 8-1 (11-4) Pulled hard, soon chasing leaders, ridden 5f out, weakened over 3f out, 7th of 14, 26l behind Sherwani Wolf (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 2f nhf (6) sft in Dec.
Buck The Trend 50-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway over 3f out, hung right over 2f out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 20l behind Necromancer (11-1) at Towcester 2m NH flat (5) hvy in Jan.
Criterion 14-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place before next, no chance from 6th, 6th of 9, 42l behind Silk Hall (11-4) at Stratford 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs.