slowly into stride, pulled hard and held up in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, weakened 2f out
took keen hold, held up and raced wide, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on final furlong but not reach leaders
made all and dictated steady pace, kicked on 2f out, driven and in command over 1f out, kept on strongly
took keen hold, soon tracked leaders, weakened 2f out
mostly chased winner, hard ridden and hung left over 1f out, no impression final furlong
in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
held up in rear and off the pace, no chance final 2f
chased leaders over 1 mile
held up in last three and off the pace, headway on inside to chase leading pair approaching final furlong, stayed on
Nonrunner
Danger Zone can put one over on Ronsard, with Alfridini and Monashee Prince two others in with a shout. It has to be said that Danger Zone has had a tendency to find one too good in the past, but Amanda Perrett looks to have found a suitable opportunity for her four-year-old to make amends for an unlucky effort before Christmas. Trapped out wide on the home turn, Ian Mongan switched him inside but had nowhere to go until it was all over, and in the end he was beaten a whisker by Night Storm. Compensation awaits, and he can brush aside the challenge of Ronsard who defied an absence to score at Wolverhampton last month. He is still well handicapped on his old Irish form and can go well despite a rise in the weights. Alfridini needed his return here 10 days ago, having been off the track for four months and he will be suited by the step back up in trip, but Monashee Prince takes a big hike and his stamina is unproven. So, for the winner we prefer the claims of Danger Zone.
Scottish River (USA) 9-1 (8-8) Started slowly, headway 4f out, edged left 1f out, kept on, 5th of 11, 2l behind Deeper In Debt (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (5) pol.
Danger Zone 25-1 (8-12) Raced wide, held up, headway and not clear run approaching final furlong, soon switched right, ran on close home, 2nd of 12, hd behind Night Storm (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Alfridini 16-1 (8-6) Led, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Chief Exec (9-4) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-60 (4) pol.
Ronsard (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden 1f out, ran on inside final furlong to lead close home, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Dec beating Bijou Dan (9-3) by a nk, 13 ran.
Monashee Prince (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Disputed lead, chased winner from 4f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Harry Up (11-0) at W'hampton 6f amt hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Madhavi 7-1 (8-9) In touch, chased leaders 2f out, weakened 1f out, 9th of 14, 4l behind Danse Spectre (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Dec.
Birthday Star (IRE) 11-1 (8-7) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 2f out, 18th of 19, 25l behind Fen Game (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) gf in Jul.
Ground Patrol 10-1 (8-13) Prominent, carried left 5f out, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 8th of 12, 16l behind Heathyards Pride (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 4f stk (F3) pol in Nov '04.
Opera Belle 14-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened quickly 3f out, last of 15, 33l behind Captain Margaret (8-11) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Unrestricted 14-1 (8-11) Not much room soon after start, held up, headway under pressure well over 1f out, not trouble leaders, 7th of 16, 6l behind Pella (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp (6) gd in Sept.
Eloquent Knight (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up, ridden and some headway well over 1f out, soon no impression, 6th of 14, 5l behind Willhego (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec.
Contented (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 4l behind Paso Doble (8-4) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
