in rear, nudged along in close 4th before 2 out, went 3rd before last, ridden and ran on well after last, always held
prominent, mistake 3 out, soon pushed along and dropped to rear, ridden and tailed off before 2 out, pulled up before last
led at modest pace, shaken up and pressed 2 out, pushed along and headed before last, not fluent final flight and ridden, kept on, no extra and lost 2nd closing stages
tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, slow jump 2 out, soon ridden and gradually weakened
held up in rear, in touch, went prominent after 3 out, pressed leader 2 out, pushed along and led before last, ridden out run-in, stayed on well
Cuban Cigar, twice an all-weather winner, has run moderately at Wolverhampton since well beaten on his hurdling debut at Leicester. Lightly-raced on the Flat with a couple of placed efforts to his credit, GLIDE DOWN made mistakes on his hurdling bow at Market Rasen but chased home Tease And Seize, who wasn't disgraced in the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow next time. Alan King's charge should have few problems going one better. Dawn Tapper won a 1m1f Leopardstown handicap in August but has shown nothing since nor has Dirham Emirati since landing a 1m4f novices' event at Newcastle in March, though the latter looks the main threat. Silver Shade completed an all-weather double over the latter trip in the spring though only had a total of four rivals to beat.
Cuban Cigar 10-1 (9-2) Raced wide, close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 6, at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Dawn Tapper (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Raced keenly in last pair, some headway out wide over 1f out, soon ridden and no impression, 7th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Billy Roberts (9-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Dirham Emirati (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Led after 2f, set steady pace, edged right 4f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no extra, last of 4, 8l behind Geremia (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Aug.
Glide Down (USA) 7-2 (10-12) Close up, ridden and headway 2 out, every chance next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 4 1/4l behind Tease And Seize (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec.
Silver Shade (FR) Evensfav (8-6) Pulled up soon after leaving stalls, at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
