tracked leaders, weakened over 1f out
led, ridden and headed approaching 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden and faded inside final furlong
slowly away, held up towards rear, headway from before halfway, soon went 2nd, ridden over 1f out, one pace
slowly away, held up in rear,headway over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on inside final furlong
tracked leader until before halfway, led approaching 1f out, ran on well
Blackmore and First Rock occupied the places behind Storm Hawk at Southwell last month though the latter re-opposes on worse terms having scored over 1m4f on the Fibresand since. Sunset Place returned to action with a creditable second at Lingfield and has claims along with Unex Picasso, who followed a win over hurdles with victory on the Flat at Southwell last time. Leyte Gulf has proved best at Wolverhampton so far, but STEADY GAZE wasn't unduly stretched when winning by six lengths over C&D on Tuesday and a penalty looks unlikely to prevent a follow-up in this company.
First Rock (IRE) 6-4fav (9-1) Tracked leader and keen, ridden and challenged over 1f out, kept on to lead last 100 yards, won at Southwell 1m 4f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs beating Bow River Arch (9-6) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Blackmore 12-1 (9-13) Chased leaders until lost place and dropped to last pair 11f out, headway under pressure over 3f out, stayed on to 2nd closing stages, never any chance with easy winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Storm Hawk (9-9) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Sunset Place 12-1 (9-4) Held up in 5th, headway on outside and edged left over 1f out, stayed on well closing stages, went 2nd close home, never able to challenge, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind The Holyman (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Opera Prince 8-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon went 3rd, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Maslak (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Unex Picasso 15-2 (9-6) Slowly away, detatched and reminders early, in rear, headway well over 1f out, ran on to lead close home, ridden out, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Brunello (8-13) by 1l, 8 ran.
Leyte Gulf (USA) 5-2fav (9-5) Slowly into stride, held up in last pair, headway on outside and squeezed through narrow gap well over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Jamarjo (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Steady Gaze 15-2 (9-7) Led 5f, remained prominent, led again over 3f out, drew clear entering final furlong, easily, won at Kempton 2m hcp (0-55) (6) pol beating Valdan (9-6) by 6l, 13 ran.