steadied start, held up in rear, good headway between horses chasing leaders over 1f out ridden to lead final 110 yards, soon hung badly right, headed and no extra towards finish
raced keenly towards rear, headway between horses over 1f out, running on when hampered and snatched up towards finish
raced keenly, led until 2f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened final fiurlong
chased leaders on inside, pushed along inside final 3f, weakened final furlong
raced keenly, chased leader, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, losing place when hampered and snatched up inside final 100 yards
mid-division good headway on inside over 1f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, soon hung badly left, led towards finish
held up towards rear, never involved
pushed along halfway, always towards rear
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division out wide 2f out, headway chasing leaders over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, just failed
stirrup iron broke and unseated rider going to start, raced keenly in mid-division, chasing leaders when ridden and hung left over 1f out, 6th and held when slightly hampered inside final 100 yards
FORGE VALLEY LAD won easily at Wolverhampton last time and a 4lb rise may not be enough to prevent another bold bid. Previous winner Doonbeg Farmer finished behind the selection while Pillars Of Earth missed out on a hat-trick when upped to 1m4f here, though is not out of this. Smart Connection has something to prove over this far though has been in good form over a mile and is closely matched with Hackbridge on running here last month.
Forge Valley Lad 7-2fav (9-5) Led after 1f, headed 6f out, led again entering final 2f, ridden clear final furlong, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Dundory (9-3) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Hackbridge 7-4jfav (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 6th of 8, 11 1/4l behind Sword Beach (11-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Union Spirit 7-1 (9-6) Set steady pace, ridden entering final furlong, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind He's A Latchico (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
For Richard 15-2 (9-11) Raced keenly, soon chasing leader, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final 100 yards, 5th of 11, 5 3/4l behind Largo Bay (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Pillars Of Earth 13-8fav (9-9) Close up, pushed along approaching 2f out, ridden and found nil over 1f out, 5th of 12, 4 1/4l behind Pablo Prince (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Florence Street 25-1 (9-6) In touch, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 6 1/4l behind He's A Latchico (9-3) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Smart Connection (IRE) 3-1fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, not much room over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 4th close home, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Broctune Red (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Sun Festival 22-1 (9-4) In touch, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 10, 4 3/4l behind Melakaz (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Couldn't Could She 16-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 2f out, kept on, not pace to get on terms, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Quemonda (9-12) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (6) gf in Sep.
Doonbeg Farmer (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Dwelt held up, pushed along over 3f out, headway when briefly not clear run inside final furlong, kept on, 5th of 12, 6l behind Forge Valley Lad (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Sherpa Trail (USA) 12-1 (8-12) Slowly away, towards rear, ridden on outside 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 9, 12l behind Mitigator (9-6) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp (6) pol in Mar.
