chased clear leader, pushed along 4f out, ridden 2f out, led well over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, found extra towards finish
in rear of main group, switched left and headway on inside approaching final furlong, pressed winner inside final furlong, no extra near finish
led 1f, remained close up in main group, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, not quicken towards finish
slowly into stride, led after 1f, soon clear, ridden over 2f out, hung right and headed over 1f out, soon weakened
tracked leader in main group, ridden 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
mid-division of main group, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear in main group, switched right entering final 2f, ridden and stayed on final furlong, never nearer
in rear of main group, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
held up in mid-division of main group, headway 2f out, effort entering final furlong, driven and kept on same pace
Nonrunner
No fewer than four of the 12 runners here won last time out and all have chances of going in again, especially Folio and Tous Les Deux but preference is for BASRA. Jo Crowley's gelding only just did enough when successful over course and distance last month but a 2lb rise for that is perfectly fair and he looks worth supporting to follow up that success. Risque Heights is now 6lbs higher than when scoring here in December and 12lbs higher than when successful at Kempton the time before that. Jim Boyle has his team in good form but he may now be too high in the weights. John Spearing's Andaman Sunset was good value for his Great Leighs success over this trip in September but has not been seen since disappointing at Warwick subsequently. Mataram ran better at Wolverhampton last time and has to be considered but a bigger threat is likely to come from Folio. Willie Musson's gelding has won his last three starts, latterly over course and distance, but another 4lb rise may prevent him from making it four on the bounce here. Gary Moore's Tous Les Deux won well here last time but that was over a mile and he may be better over that trip now so we side with Basra.
King Olav (UAE) 5-1 (9-1) In touch, lost place well over 3f out, pulled up and dismounted 2f out pulled up in race won by Expresso Star (8-13) at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct, 15 ran.
Basra (IRE) 4-1 (9-6) Held up 5th on inside, short of room when hampered over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan beating Summer Winds (8-13) by a nk, 7 ran.
Folio (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden to chase leader well over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan beating Millie's Rock (8-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Allanit (GER) 14-1 (9-8) Slowly into stride, keen, ridden over 2f out, no impression, last of 7, 21l behind Scarab (8-11) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Alpes Maritimes 11-2 (9-1) Behind, some headway from 2f out, soon ridden and no progress from 1f out, 10th of 14, 6l behind Confidentiality (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Mataram (USA) 4-1 (9-1) In touch, took keen hold, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, carried slightly left, ran on, 2nd of 7, hd behind Dichoh (9-9) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Jan.
Risque Heights 7-2fav (9-6) Slowly into stride, in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, kept on, won at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Dec beating Saucy (8-11) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Andaman Sunset 15-2 (9-4) Prominent when not much room soon after start, towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, hung left 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Starlight Gazer (8-6) at Warwick 1m hcp 0-75.
Man of Gwent (UAE) 16-1 (9-2) Held up and last place, plenty to do 2f out, headway on inside approaching final furlong, stayed on nearest finish, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Can Can Star (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Mafeking (UAE) 5-1 (9-8) Led, headed after 2f, led again 7f out, weakening when headed 2f out, 6th of 7, 7l behind Scarab (8-11) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Tous Les Deux 9-2 (9-1) Held up towards rear, wide into straight 2f out, headway soon after, ridden to lead towards finish, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Shake On It (8-2) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
