prominent, ridden and every chance over 2f out, kept on one pace
close up, led halfway, ridden and headed entering final furlong, no extra
led until halfway
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased winner and hung right inside final furlong
close up over 4f
never troubled leaders
prominent, near stands side rail over 4f
mid-division, ridden and no headway final 2f
always towards rear
slowly into stride, always in rear
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
soon pushed along in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, led entering final furlong, ran on
close up over 4f
mid-division, ridden 3f out, kept on one pace
close up, chased leader over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
Hail The Chief lines up fit and in form so gets the vote over a whole host of possibles including Dabbers Ridge, Ginger Spice and Commando Scot to name but a few. Punters are left no easy task in the finale, but the winter form of Hail The Chief ensures that he should give a good account, and Richard Hannon's charge is taken to defy a five-pound penalty. That was incurred for a recent victory at Folkestone where the drop back to seven furlongs and soft ground helped his cause enormously, and with conditions very similar today, a mark of 71 does not look at all prohibitive. Dabbers Ridge is another soft-ground performer who can mirror the recent encouraging form shown by the rest of the Hills stable with a good comeback run. Ginger Spice handled cut when scoring at Newbury last July but may be best watched on her first outing since October, but Commando Scot could easily reach the frame after his fourth in the Spring Mile at Redcar. He is well treated and is yet another that will revel in the conditions. Puya has topweight but is lightly raced, and at the other end of the handicap, Resplendent Nova should make a race of it with his Folkestone conqueror Hail The Chief on the revised terms, but preference is still for the Hannon inmate who can use his turn of foot to good effect again.
Dabbers Ridge (IRE) 6-1jt-fav (8-13) Led farside group and overall leader, headed over 1f out, stayed on, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Game Lad (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Commando Scott (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) In touch, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, not quicken final furlong, 4th of 22, 6l behind Mezuzah (8-5) at Redcar 1m hcap (2) sft in Mar.
Flying Bantam (IRE) 9-1 (8-1) Jinked right soon after start and unseated rider in race won by Dancing Lyra (8-6) at Southwell 7f hcap (4) hvy in Mar, 14 ran.
Paris Bell 16-1 (8-9) Towards rear stands side, ridden over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 10th of 22, 21l behind Cardinal Venture (8-10) at Doncaster 7f app hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Burley Flame 20-1 (8-10) Raced stand's side, mid-division, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, 9th of 19, 10l behind Game Lad (9-2) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Arctic Desert 5-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway and effort over 1f out, no extra final furlong, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Raza Cab (8-13) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Hail The Chief 11-2fav (8-10) Close up far side, ridden to challenge 2f out, driven and ran on to lead final 100 yards (hand-timed), won at Folkestone 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Mar beating Corky (9-0) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Distant Times 20-1 (8-6) Always towards rear, 11th of 13, 10l behind Tanforan (8-1) at Chester 1m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
