in rear, effort and headway on wide outside 3f out, led over 2f out, hung right and headed well over 1f out, ridden and no extra inside last
keen to start, towards rear, effort and headway over 2f out, ridden and chased winner 1f out, kept on but always held
pushed along early to be prominent, shaken up over 4f out, ridden in 2nd over 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders early, dropped to rear halfway, pushed along and not clear run 2f out, soon ridden and kept on one pace
mid-division, pulled wide and pressed leader well over 2f out, pushed along 2f out, led well over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well inside last
led, headed and tracked leader after 4f, ridden and outpaced 2f out, gradually weakened
PHOENIX AQUILUS has returned from a lay-off in fine form and completed a double with last month’s victory at Southwell. He’s upped a further 6lb but won with plenty left in the tank and is preferred to Aljaryaal. The latter steps up in trip after going close over 1m5f here while Hear Me Out won at Catterick when last in action but that was back in October. Most of the remainder have been hurdling with Vorashann preferred having gone close over track and trip when last on the Flat while Alborkan has undergone recent wind surgery.
Alborkan (FR) 18-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division on inside, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened badly run-in, 6th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Fine Casting (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Phoenix Aquilus (IRE) 11-4jfav (9-11) Steadied start, held up off the pace in last trio, good headway out wide and rider delayed challenge until strong run inside final furlong, led inside final 100 yards, won going away, cleverly, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Prince Abu (8-8) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Vorashann (FR) 10-1 (12-0) Pressed leader until led 4th, clear before 3 out, pushed along and headed before 2 out, lost 2nd soon after 2 out, weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Neon Moon (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Thibault 13-2 (12-0) Off the pace in 4th, tracked leading pair at 4th, went 2nd turning in until pushed along before 2 out, chased leading pair until ridden and weakened run-in, 5th of 9, 23 3/4l behind Manucci (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
London Eye (USA) 9-1 (12-0) Led until 1st, prominent on outside, led after 2nd, headed 3rd, weakened after 4 out, pulled up after, at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Aljaryaal (FR) Evensfav (9-7) Close up, wide and headway to lead 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 7, shd behind Moel Arthur (9-10) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Hear Me Out (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Chased leaders out wide, went 2nd after 11/2f, led 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied gamely under pressure to lead near finish, won at Catterick 2m hcp (6) sft in Oct beating Globetrotter (9-9) by hd, 11 ran.