chased winner, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, lost 2nd final strides
raced wide in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
made all, ridden and ran on final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden and lost touch halfway
dwelt and slowly into stride, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd final strides
close up, effort on inner over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced wide towards rear, ridden over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish
rider removed hood late, dwelt, in rear, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, nearest finish
Nonrunner
It would be difficult to find a better example of a whose turn is it today contest in a typically wide-open sprint. Even Stevens has every chance after beating Silken Express, Swiss Cross and Addictive Dream at Wolverhampton when UBETTERBEGOOD was a fast-finishing fourth. Drawn wide on that occasion, Robert Cowell's charge gets a speculative vote in this. Stablemate Silken Express had earlier got the better of Woolfall Sovereign at Southwell while Ballista also has a shout in this grade. Taajub finished ahead of Diamond Charlie here last time but is upped in class along with Picansort.
Ballista (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Led, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 6l behind Tarooq (9-0) at Lingfield 6f Listed stks (1) pol in Feb.
Swiss Cross 10-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and edged left entering final furlong, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 4l behind Even Stevens (9-4) at Wolverhampton 5f hcap (2) pol in Feb.
Addictive Dream (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Held up, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Even Stevens (9-4) at Wolverhampton 5f hcap (2) pol in Feb.
Silken Express (IRE) 11-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Even Stevens (9-4) at Wolverhampton 5f hcap (2) pol in Feb.
Woolfall Sovereign (IRE) 20-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 8l behind Rivellino (9-1) at Lingfield 6f hcap (2) pol in Feb.
Ubetterbegood (ARG) 25-1 (8-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, finished well, not reach leaders, 4th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Even Stevens (9-4) at Wolverhampton 5f hcap (2) pol in Feb.
Taajub (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating Royal Bajan (9-4) by 1l, 9 ran.
Diamond Charlie (IRE) 7-2 (9-7) Held up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, not clear run inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Taajub (9-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Picansort 9-4fav (9-7) In touch in rear, ridden and headway when not clear run inside final furlong, switched right, stayed on, 4th of 6, 1 1/2l behind Gregori (8-7) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Even Stevens 20-1 (9-4) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on gamely, held on, all out, won at Wolverhampton 5f hcap (2) pol in Feb beating Silken Express (9-1) by 1/2l, 12 ran.