held up in last trio, steady headway on inside over 2f out, disputing lead over 1f out until entering final furlong, stayed on same pace in 3rd
chased leaders in 5th, headway to lead just inside final furlong, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards
slowly into stride, held up in last trio, steady headway out wide over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead final 100 yards, won going away
soon chasing leaders out wide, every chance 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leader, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
slowly into stride, behind and never involved
quickly away, led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Dual novice winner La Tihaty makes his handicap debut but hasn’t raced since this time last year. Alrehb is another with scope handicapping for the first time having failed to land the odds at Newcastle last month but HAFEET ALAIN (NAP) is fancied to edge this. Ed Walker’s charge bounced back to a form when beaten only a head over 7f at Wolverhampton last time and won off a similar mark at Newmarket on his only previous start over today’s trip. Uzincso finished second of five runners in this grade here last month while Keyser Soze has to race off a higher mark on the all-weather and the remainder have something to prove at this level.
Keyser Soze (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Raced keenly, tracked leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 7, 5 3/4l behind United Front (9-9) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Hafeet Alain (IRE) 10-3 (9-9) Held up, effort over 2f out, ridden on outside over 1f out, stayed on, went 2nd close home, just held, 2nd of 6, hd behind Street Kid (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Nov.
La Tihaty (IRE) 1-4fav (9-3) Disputed lead, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, held on, won at Chelmsford City 7f stks (5) pol in Jan beating Rogue Force (8-10) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Uzincso 7-4fav (9-8) Chased winner throughout, ridden and no headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, never able to challenge, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Animal Instinct (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Alrehb (USA) 5-6fav (9-10) Chased leaders, headway to lead over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, kept on final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Tyrrhenian Sea (9-2) at Newcastle 1m stks (5) pol in Dec.
Pinnata (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Quickly away, led, pushed along over 2f out, headed entering final 2f, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened rapidly, last of 11, 17 1/4l behind Excel Power (9-10) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Evasive Power (USA) 18-1 (9-4) Slowly away, held up in rear, well beaten inside final 2f, last of 7, 10 1/2l behind Espresso Freddo (8-8) at Kempton 1m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Motawaafeq (FR) 5-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 10, 16 1/4l behind Masked Identity (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Nov.