mid-division, headway before 5th, chased winner before 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on and no impression
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, in 3rd before last, kept on same pace
with leader, led after 4 out, clear from last, ran on strongly
led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, headway 4th, weakened before 2 out
towards rear, headway before 3 out, one pace and no impression
Though MOHAAYED was a miler on the Flat in Ireland, he certainly wasn’t stopping when chasing home Elgin on his hurdling debut at Kempton, despite being a little keen. The pair finished well clear and, a couple of pounds better off, the five-year-old is fancied to reverse running here with Alan King’s charge and give Dan and Harry Skelton back-to-back victories in this Grade 2. Craggaknock, who easily beat Master Of Finance at Wetherby, and Neon Wolf both put unbeaten records on the line and there probably isn’t much between the pair on the form book. Crievehill defied a big weight in a Lingfield handicap last time and looks to be on an upward curve but it’s difficult to see Golden Town breaking his duck in this company.
Elgin 11-2 (11-5) Raced keenly, held up disputing 5th, smooth headway tracking leaders approaching 2 out, led soon after 2 out, skaken up and clear approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m (2) gd in Dec beating Mohaayed (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Craggaknock 7-2 (11-5) Prominent, challenged 3 out, pressed leader 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Dec beating Azzuri (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 14 ran.
Crievehill (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, headway tracking leaders approaching 2 out, 2nd approaching the last, driven ahead inside final 150 yards, won at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Darwins Theory (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Neon Wolf (IRE) 2-5fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, 2nd on inside going well before 3 out, led narrowly 3 out, held together and hit 2 out, pushed readily clear run-in, won at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gs in Jan beating Coole Cody (10-12) by 3l, 17 ran.
Golden Town (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leader, every chance 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Fattsota (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m mdn (5) gd in Jan.
Master Of Finance (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, ridden before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Craggaknock (11-5) at Wetherby 2m (4) gs in Dec.
Mohaayed 28-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up disputing 5th, steady headway approaching 2 out, hanging right and challenging when bumped 2 out, soon 2nd, driven and kept on run-in, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Elgin (11-5) at Kempton 2m (2) gd in Dec.
