slowly into stride, pushed along in rear, rapid headway on outside to lead 6f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened rapidly final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in touch on inside, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader 3f, chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, hung right and weakened over 2f out
in touch, quick move to lead 7f out until 6f out, chased leader until pushed along 4f out, chased leading pair, hard ridden and not quicken 2f out, lost 3rd towards finish
pulled hard, soon towards rear, never a factor
steadied start, held up in rear, smooth headway on inside tracking leaders over 2f out, went between horses over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, readily
held up in touch, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home
led and set steady pace 4f, handy tracking leaders, 2nd again 4f out, ridden to lead again over 1f out, headed and not pace of winner inside final furlong, kept on
Al Hamdany has been in fine form since landing a 1m4f handicap here in November, though has just looked a couple of pounds high in the weights. He was beaten narrowly by KOEMAN over the course and distance in September and is no better off so the winner, who has had a break since November, is taken to confirm the places and take this. Calling Out last won just over a year ago at Wolverhampton and though he's also been in good form he's another who might be a few pounds high. Alan King has two entries with Cosmeapolitan looking the more likely winner of the pair though the winning hurdler may find this on the short side, as may stable companion Keep In Line.
Fire Fighting (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Held up behind, outpaced over 2f out, never a threat, 8th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Utmost (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Feb.
Calling Out (FR) 9-2 (9-5) Took keen hold, held up in 4th place, headway on inside into 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 4, 3 1/4l behind Red Verdon (9-8) at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (2) pol in Feb.
Frenzified 80-1 (8-10) Saved ground to 1/4, 7th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Avenge (8-12) at Santa Anita 1m 2f stks gd in Oct.
Keep In Line (GER) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden and plugged on into modest 4th after 2 out, no chance with leaders, 4th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Value At Risk (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Al Hamdany (IRE) 9-4 (8-13) Close up, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 4th of 6, 2l behind Burcan (8-12) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Azari 33-1 (8-13) Always in rear, 20th of 23, 15l behind Saunter (8-13) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Cosmeapolitan 9-2 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway and switched right 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, took 2nd 75 yards out and closed, always held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Celestial Spheres (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Koeman 12-1 (9-3) Raced wide tracked leaders until taken back 9f out, towards rear, headway on outer to go close up 7f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Ply (9-10) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (2) pol in Nov.
Kelly's Dino (FR) 3-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Now Children (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Intrepidly (USA) 11-4 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, pushed along over 2f out, soon not pace of winner, went 2nd and hung left over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, lost 2nd and no extra final 75 yards, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Celestial Spheres (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
