broke well, steady to mid-division, headway approaching 2f out, switched right over 1f out, every chance when chased winner inside final furlong, not quicken near finish
slowly into stride, wide and headway to lead over 7f out, clear 5f out, ridden 3f out, headed 1f out, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, no impression
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, switched right 1f out, ran on, not reach leaders
in rear, pushed along 4f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
towards rear, not clear run 2f out, soon ridden, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
raced wide, mid-division, pushed along 4f out, gradually weakened from over 2f out
raced wide, keen in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
soon led, headed over 7f out, chased leader until over 3f out, ridden to lead again 1f out, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen, tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader over 3f out until over 1f out, soon weakened
AL AZY may be able to recoup losses in a competitive finale where Old Romney and Ghufa are amongst the leading players. David Simcock has notched up some notable successes with new horses to his yard over the course of the winter and Al Azy was well backed to make a winning start for him at Kempton. The former John Dunlop inmate was without the blinkers that he'd sported when last in action and failed to pick up when asked. The headgear is absent again and he obviously comes with risks attached but that was his first start since June so there's a chance that he may have needed the run and he's been dropped another 3lbs. Old Romney just lost out to Ghufa last time and both have to be on the short-list along with Formidable Guest who has been enjoying a fine run of form and may not be done with yet. Almahaza has more to do here than when winning at Southwell but isn't dismissed and nor is Clovis who has taken a while to get his head in front but won convincingly at Kempton and may just be capable of better now that he's got his head in front. Our Kes was below par last time but wasn't far behind Old Romney on her penultimate start and is another capable of popping up but a chance is taken with Al Azy.
Old Romney 7-2 (9-5) Steadied start, soon switched left, held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to chase winner when rider dropped whip just over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Ghufa (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol in Feb.
My Mentor (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, no impression final 2f, 4th of 7, 10l behind Inside Story (8-13) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Feb.
Straight And Level (CAN) 11-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, soon eased, last of 10, 10l behind Tous Les Deux (9-1) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Clovis 9-1 (9-13) In touch, quick into lead over 1f out, soon clear, comfortable, won at Kempton 1m 2f mdn stk (5) pol in Feb beating Longboat Key (8-6) by 5l, 5 ran.
Formidable Guest 7-2jt-fav (9-3) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3f out, led narrowly just over 1f out, no extra when headed just inside final furlong, and soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind My Shadow (9-2) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Fe.
Ghufa (IRE) 13-8fav (8-9) Held up, headway on outer over 3f out, chased winner over 2f out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Middle of Nowhere (9-1) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Feb.
Our Kes (IRE) 17-2 (9-1) Pushed along to lead, headed well over 3f out, weakened 2f out, last of 13, 37l behind Formidable Guest (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Artreju (GER) 7-2 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden and hung left over 1f out, no danger, 8th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Forbidden (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 1f sll (6) pol in Feb.
Vinces 8-1 (9-4) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on well until weakened final furlong, 7th of 9, 3l behind Ardmaddy (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Al Azy (IRE) 11-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 2f out, not quicken over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 9, 6l behind Prince Charlemagne (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Feb.
Almahaza (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out on outside, driven to stay on near line, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-50 (6) fbs in Feb beating General Tufto (8-11) by 1l, 12 ran.
