soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, outpaced over 2f out
chased leaders, soon pushed along, improved 3f out, effort on outside 2f out, joined leader and soon led entering final furlong, driven out
All of these have been frustrating to follow and it is only with tepid confidence that Hows That gets the nomination over Scutch Mill and Sonntag Blue, who can scrap it out for the forecast. Lakesdale has rarely looked like adding to his career tally over the last year and is not hard to leave out of the equation. Sonntag Blue won a seller at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start and does shape as if he can figure again at this level. However, he was very disappointing when he was last seen out and may be best watched after 130 days away from competition. Glasson Lodge has been kept busy recently and should again run his race. He may have found the trip beyond him when he tried 10 furlongs last month and should be better suited to a mile around here. However, a line of form with Bogaz leaves him with a little to find with the selection, who is just preferred on this occasion. Hows That has adapted well to the artificial surfaces and, with his yard in such good from, Karl Burke's charge gets a confident vote to take a modest race like this in his stride.
Sonntag Blue (IRE) 8-1 Soon pushed along towards rear, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 11, 10l behind Im Spartacus at Southwell 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (E3) fbs in Dec.
Glasson Lodge 3-1 Tracked leaders, under pressure 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Missie Baileys at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo clm (F4) pol in Mar.
Hows That 2-1 Tracked leader, led over 4f out, headed 2f out, ridden and stayed on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Melvino at Southwell 7f 3yo sll (G4) fbs in Mar.
Lakesdale (IRE) 20-1 Held up and behind, effort and driven 2f out, one pace and no impression over 1f out, 6th of 13, 6l behind Barton Sands at Lingfield 1m 2f sll pol.
Scutch Mill (IRE) 10-1 Slowly away, held up in rear, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 5l behind Group Captain at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn (D2) pol in Mar.