chased leaders, effort on inside to lead approaching final furlong, hard ridden inside final furlong, strongly pressed and held on gamely close home
took keen hold, held up in last trio, always behind, never involved
led, joined 3f out, kept slight advantage until ridden and headed approaching final furlong, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, lost 3rd last strides
chased leader over 1f, remained chasing leaders, ridden over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, took 3rd last strides, no chance with leading duo
chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
held up in last trio, good headway on inside well over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, strong challenge close home, just held
reared leaving stalls, headway on wide ouyside to chase leader over 4f out, every chance 2f out, ridden and weakened 1f out
held up in last trio, ridden and no real progrees over 1f out, plugged on
JONNIE SKULL made the most of a drop in class with a convincing victory at Wolverhampton last week, but this doesn't look that much tougher and he won off today's mark last year. Phil McEntee's charge can follow up at the main expense of Saucy Buck, who had Cristaliyev behind when beaten only a length in third over C&D last time. Efistorm and Do More Business have yet to score over 7f, though Putin has been given a chance by the handicapper and showed a bit more on his latest start.
Efistorm 14-1 (9-7) Dipped start, soon prominent, went 2nd 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 2l behind Piccolo Express (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Saucy Buck (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) In touch, headway over 1f out, ridden and stayed on towards finish, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Crocodile Bay (8-10) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Smoky Cloud (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Led, headed over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 16l behind Vhujon (8-11) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Cristaliyev 10-3fav (9-4) In touch, ridden and headway entering final furlong, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 2l behind Crocodile Bay (8-10) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-60 (6) pol.
Captainrisk (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden halfway, no impression, 8th of 10, 6l behind Cut The Cackle (8-11) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Do More Business (IRE) 14-1 (8-3) Towards rear, ran on inside final furlong, pressed for well held 3rd last strides, never nearer, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Dvinsky (9-4) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Putin (IRE) 28-1 (8-4) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Caledonia Prince (8-7) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Grand Honour (IRE) 25-1 (8-7) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 8th of 12, 9l behind Shaunas Spirit (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Jan.
Jonnie Skull (IRE) 13-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden clear 1f out, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-50 (7) pol beating Cairanne (8-9) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.