tracked leaders, switched right entering final 2f, ridden and hung left approaching final furlong, effort and driven inside final furlong, not run on
towards rear, never on terms
led early, tracked leader, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, driven inside final furlong, edged left towards finish
in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
very slowly away and reluctant early, behind, recovered to rear 7f out, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
raced wide, tracked leader, ridden entering final 2f, soon weakened
in touch, headway when not clear run approaching final furlong, ridden inside final furlong, staying on when hampered towards finish
led over 8f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
Believe It has plenty to do as he's never raced beyond a mile and steps into this class for the first time after landing a Kempton handicap from 4lb lower. DUTCH UNCLE (NAP) had dropped to a very fair mark by the time he came here last month but was drawn badly. Held up, he finished strongly when the race was all over and can gain compensation. Starlit Cantata was caught on the line over this trip at Chelmsford but that was slightly lower grade contest than this. The Gay Cavalier has gained all of his five victories, including four on Polytrack, at around this trip though hasn't run since September while Icebuster has been absent even longer and is still a maiden on the all-weather after 21 starts. Elysian Prince won here in February but is still 5lb higher despite not having scored subsequently.
Dutch Uncle 9-2 (9-6) Held up behind, headway on outside over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, took 3rd towards finish, not reach front pair, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Van Huysen (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Icebuster 16-1 (9-11) Slowly into stride, held up in rear, pushed along on outside 3f out, never involved, weakened and behind final 2f, last of 8, dist behind Pure Art (9-5) at Sandown 1m 2f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Elysian Prince 6-1 (11-7) In touch in rear, pushed along over 4f out, never on terms, 8th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Alberta (11-9) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Starlit Cantata 7-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, headway 2f out, led entering final furlong, ran on, headed last strides, 2nd of 12, hd behind Zain Arion (8-11) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp fll (5) pol in Dec.
The Gay Cavalier 14-1 (9-0) Very slowly away, in rear, never on terms, 4th of 5, 5 3/4l behind Al Neksh (9-2) at Yarmouth 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Genuine Approval (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 9, 35 1/2l behind Petite Jack (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Exceeding Power 12-1 (9-1) Raced wide, in touch, ridden 2f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 4 3/4l behind Tellovoi (8-12) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Believe It (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, pushed along to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Kempton 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec beating Baltic Prince (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.