led, ridden, pressed 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon outpaced by winner
reluctant to canter to post, slowly away, well outpaced in rear, shaken up over 1f out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, joined leader 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up behind leaders, led going well over 1f out, soon quickened clear, eased near finish
took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden on outside halfway, soon weakened, behind final 2f
in touch, effort on inside 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
reluctant to load stalls, tracked leader to 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Kingsgate Prince is in the form of his life and is taken to land the hat-trick at the expense of Cavewarrior and Diane's Choice. John Best's colt made it back to back victories last week when beating previous winner Didn't We over the seven furlong trip here. He won a shade cozily on that occasion and there could be more in the locker. Cavewarrior is from a top yard and has already shown a liking for the all-weather with a victory at Wolverhampton last August. He looks on a fair mark for his handicap debut and should go close. Diane's Choice was beaten into second by the selection when they met here last month and should get a lot closer at the revised weights. The pick of the others could be Scooby Dude, but Kingsgate Prince is hard to ignore in his current mood and gets the verdict.
Figaro Flyer (IRE) 4-6fav (9-2) Made virtually all, ridden clear over 1f out, won at Lingfield 6f 2yo sll (6) pol in Dec beating Phinerine (8-4) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Memphis Man 20-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, last of 7, 4 1/2l behind Advanced (9-1) at Salisbury 6f 2yo stk (2) gd in Sept.
Cavewarrior 3-1jt-fav (9-2) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, unable to quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Cape of Luck (9-2) at Lingfield 6f 2yo stk (4) pol in Oct.
Sunny King (IRE) 5-2 (9-10) Close up, effort 1f out, driven and ran on to lead final 75 yards, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (5) pol beating Didn't We (9-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Scooby Dude (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (9-7) Held up, headway over 2f out, stayed on, 4th of 8, 3l behind Rapsgate (8-5) at W'hampton 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Sands Crooner (IRE) 16-1 (8-3) In rear, headway on inside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 2l behind Dingaan (9-4) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Diane's Choice 10-1 (8-9) Pressed leader, led halfway, hard ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Kingsgate Prince (9-0) at Lingfield 6f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Jan.
Thoughtsofstardom 6-4fav (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden over 1f out, edged left entering final furlong, not trouble leaders, 5th of 9, 4l behind Pauvic (8-6) at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
