tracked leader until over 4f out, tracked leaders after, ridden over 1f out, weakened 1f out
slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 3rd final strides
raced wide in touch, ridden 2f out, chased winner 1f out, kept on same pace
pulled hard tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, flashed tail and kept on final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened 1f out, eased
raced wide in touch, chased leader over 4f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up in last place, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up in mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, not pace to challenge
This looks slightly less competitive than the first division, with COPPERWOOD a relatively strong fancy to beat Billberry and Ede's Dot Com. Our selection has really got the hang of things of late having taken 20 races to get off the mark. He's up 3lbs for a last-gasp success last time but that far from handicaps him out of this and he's taken to go in again whilst in such rude health at a course he enjoys. Ede's Dot Com has won one of his two starts over course and distance but faces no easy task up 7lbs for victory when last seen. That was back in October, so with an absence and that rise in the weights to deal with he's just about opposable although there could yet be more to come. Of slightly more interest therefore is Billberry, upon whom Adam Kirby has a fine record. Stuart Williams' gelding has been in good form of late, particularly when young Kirby rides, and he's just 3lbs higher than when last victorious. As a course and distance winner, he's got to have solid prospects of getting in the first three at least. The well bred Print needs a market check on his return from almost a year off, but without that guide Gazboolou may be next best. He's just a pound higher than when last successful and as that came here the gelding must have claims, the concern being his recent efforts have been rather laboured. For that reason he's taken on along with Steel Free who looks a shade high in the weights on what she's achieved. Similar comments apply to Chief Red Cloud and the old boy Musical Script, so the finale can go to Copperwood.
Perfect Friend 12-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 12, 6l behind Swift Chap (9-5) at Newbury 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Steel Free (IRE) 18-1 (8-11) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, one pace, 5th of 14, 5l behind Steel Stockholder (7-13) at Doncaster 7f 3yo app hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Gazboolou 16-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 5l behind Kersivay (8-7) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Print (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Reared start, behind, some late headway over 1f out, 8th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Taurus Twins (8-12) at Nottingham 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.
Simple Rhythm 100-1 (8-11) Pulled hard, raced wide held up, headway to lead over 3f out until over 2f out, last of 9, 10l behind Charlie Smirke (9-4) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Musical Script (USA) 7-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened final furlong, last of 8, 3 1/2l behind Imperial House (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Ede's Dot Com (IRE) 6-4fav (8-9) Always prominent, switched right over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran well, eased close home, won at Kempton 7f stks 0-55 (6) pol in Oct beating Clerical (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Copperwood 9-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, pulled hard in mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, soon outpaced, hard driven and ran on to lead close home, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol beating Trip Switch (8-11) by shd, 11 ran.
Billberry 15-2 (8-1) Soon led, ridden and headed well over 1f out, rider dropped whip soon after, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 4l behind Jake The Snake (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Chief Red Cloud (USA) 11-4fav (8-13) Chased leaders, pushed along on outside over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 6l behind Peper Harow (9-4) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct.
