tracked leader, led 5f out, ridden out
close up, headway to chase winner over 1f out, ridden and weakened inside final furlong
led, headed 5f out, tracked winner, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, driven and headway to press winner inside final furlong, no impression towards finish
QASSEM has faced a couple of tough tasks since finishing second at York in August and has won on the all-weather before. He has leading claims at the weights and makes more appeal over today’s distance than Cliffs Of Capri. The latter landed a double over 7f earlier and went close over the same trip at Wolverhampton during the week. Lost At Sea and Medici Banchiere make up the rest of a small field but look up against it both on these terms and on form.
Cliffs Of Capri 8-15fav (10-2) Tracked leaders, led and hung left over 1f out, soon ridden and ran on, headed post, 2nd of 5, shd behind Maximinus Thrax (9-2) at Wolverhampton 7f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Qassem (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd 3f out until pushed along and weakened over 1f out, 14th of 20, 9 1/2l behind Lord Glitters (9-3) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Lost At Sea 25-1 (8-13) Outpaced in rear, never a factor, 8th of 9, 16 3/4l behind Custard The Dragon (8-10) at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Medici Banchiere 11-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 5l behind Dellaguista (9-0) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Jan.