dwelt, pulled hard in rear, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders, every chance inside final furlong, no extra close home
slowly into stride, chased leaders, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on well
chased leaders, effort over 1f out, soon every chance, faded closing stages
chased leaders, weakened 2f out
led, hard ridden when strongly challenged inside final furlong, headed last strides
prominent, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakened final furlong
Triple Dream scored over C&D last month but is 5lb higher today. He also has a bit to find with Estonia as she beat him at Kempton back in November and re-opposes on better terms. The latter likes to pounce late off a decent pace, however, and she's far from certain to get that here and DESERT STRIKE makes more appeal. He won at Wolverhampton earlier this month when today's apprentice Nora Looby was doing the steering and the partnership can resume winning ways today. Black Baccara is 10lb higher than last month's win at Kempton, but Rylee Mooch may do better back on this surface after three outings on the Fibresand at Southwell.
Desert Strike 10-3 (8-13) Held up, not clear run over 2f out, soon switched slightly left, went close 2nd over 1f out, ridden inside furlong, outbattled, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Stevie Gee (8-6) at Kempton 6f clm stks 0-75 (6) pol.
Triple Dream 7-2fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, under pressure halfway, stayed on final furlong, never able to challenge, 4th of 8, 2 1/4l behind Cadeaux Pearl (9-6) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Estonia 9-2 (8-10) Took keen hold, led early, soon settled 3rd on rail, ridden over 1f out, disputing 2nd inside final furlong, no extra close home, 5th of 7, 2l behind Diamond Charlie (9-5) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Black Baccara 11-1 (8-6) Slowly away, soon driven and prominent, ridden to challenge over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 7l behind Cadeaux Pearl (9-6) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Mandy's Hero 25-1 (8-1) Chased clear leading pair, not on terms when lost 3rd over 1f out, weakened quickly, last of 10, 9l behind Sugar Beet (9-5) at Kempton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Rylee Mooch 8-1 (8-9) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened halfway, 7th of 9, 9l behind Ghostwing (9-7) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Sherjawy (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Chased leaders on outside, outpaced over 2f out, rallied and kept on again inside final furlong, snatched 4th last stride, 4th of 8, 2l behind Jimmy Ryan (9-3) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.