tracked leaders, headway to lead 3 out, hard pressed flat, stayed on gamely
with leader, until reminder 5th, remained in touch until outpaced 3 out, 5th and beaten when unseated rider last
always behind
whipped round start, lost 30 lengths, pulled up after 2nd
always behind
in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, mistake 4 out, outpaced after next
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged flat, no extra close home
made most to 3 out, outpaced by 1st 2 after next
All eyes will be on Mephisto, Faasel and Habitual Dancer here, with our vote going to Mephisto. The Howard Johnson-trained runner was good enough to win the Ebor on the Flat and he warmed the blood courtesy of his Haydock win from Moulin Riche last time. He looks a useful recruit to hurdling but, then again, so does Faasel, who receives eleven pounds from his older rival. He has hardly broken sweat in winning three on the bounce following his expensive purchase off the Flat, in which sphere he achieved a rating of 97 in Ireland. The course and distance winner Habitual Dancer, who beat Mephisto's stable companion Regal Setting over course and distance last time, looks to be a decent best of the rest, although Indy Mood is officially rated higher than him. Best of the others look to be Seeyaj and South Bronx, who is 10 pounds better off for having finished just half-a-length behind Faasel here in February - although the winner won easily. However, for us, the selection in what has the makings of a superb heat, is Mephisto.
Mephisto (IRE) 9-4 Held up in rear, headway to join leader approaching 2 out, shaken up to lead flat, easily, won at Haydock 2m 7f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb beating Moulin Riche by 3l, 5 ran.
Indy Mood 8-1 Held up, reminders after 5th, headway to chase leaders approaching 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 15, 18l behind The Bajan Bandit at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Northern Echo 50-1 Always behind, 6th of 12, well behind Knowhere at Hexham 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gd in Oct.
Persian Point 8-1 Held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 15, 26l behind Assumetheposition at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) hvy in Feb.
Seeyaaj 9-1 Always towards rear, 8th of 10, 33l behind Torkinking at Haydock 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Feb.
South Bronx (IRE) 8-1 Led, ridden 2 out, headed after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Faasel at Kelso 2m nov hdl (E) gd in Feb.
Faasel (IRE) 1-5fav Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, led next, readily, won at Ayr 2m nov hdl (D) hvy in Feb beating Ambition Royal by 5l, 12 ran.
