held up, pushed along, improved approaching 2f out, soon ridden
pulled hard, tracked leader until 8f out, remained close up, chased leader again entering final 3f, quickened to lead 2f out, soon clear
soon led, pushed along over 4f out, headed approaching 3f out, weakened approaching 2f out
keen, broke well, soon steadied to rear, improved approaching 2f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, soon no impression
slowly into stride, tracked leader 8f out, led approaching 3f out, ridden, headed 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
This looks to be a match-up between Zero Cool and BLACKTOFT and narrow preference is for the last mentioned. Stuart Williams is as shrewd as they come and his 6-year-old justified his tag of favourite when he won at Wolverhampton beating Dancing Deano last week. He was slowly away and did not really have the race run to suit that day so it was a good effort and he is taken to go in again. His main danger is Zero Cool, who finished behind Blacktoft when last seen out. A strict interpretation of the form should see Zero Cool reverse the placings here, but Blacktoft is best off a strong pace and if he gets that here, he didn't that day, then he can come out on top. North Parade was reported to have suffered with a breathing problem when he disappointed at Doncaster last month. If he is over that problem then he would have to enter calculations, but that is by no means guaranteed and this is his first try on the all-weather so he does have questions to answer. It will be a surprise if either Bet Noir or Fortune Point are good enough, and this looks a good opportunity for Blacktoft who can back-up his recent success.
North Parade 9-2fav (8-13) Mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 6th of 13, 4l behind Afram Blue (8-5) at Salisbury 1m 2f clm (5) gd in Oct.
Blacktoft (USA) 11-8fav (8-9) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out, won at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol beating Dancing Deano (8-8) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Fortune Point (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) With leader, led after 3f, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 7l behind Bahhmirage (9-0) at Kempton 1m 2f Stks (41-45) (7) pol.
Zero Cool (USA) 11-4 (8-9) Raced keenly towards rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders over 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 2 1/2l behind Slip (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f clm (6) pol in Jan.
Bet Noir (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, ridden 7f out, always behind, 10th of 12, well behind Prairie Hawk (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
