steadied start, held up in rear, never involved
held up in last pair, good headway near side rail over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well and always doing enough
close 3rd, pushed along pushed along far side of group over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
led until headed inside final 3f, lost 2nd over 2f out, soon weakened and behind, tailed off
bit keen tracking leader, led inside final 3f and came near side, headed inside final 2f, lost 2nd soon after, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders in close 4th, good headway near side over 2f out, led inside final 2f until ridden and headed over 1f out, hung left and stayed on same pace inside final furlong
BARENBOIM ran well upped to 2m at Wolverhampton last time having completed a double over middle-distances before that. He gets another chance back down in trip and class. By contrast, Buxted Too faces a stiffer task in this higher grade though won over track and trip with a bit to spare when notching a four-timer and is due to be raised by 2lb more than today’s penalty in the future. Vega Sicilia has gone close since winning at Wolverhampton in December but Pirate King hasn’t been at his best and Nicholas T needs a longer trip. Shake A Leg hasn’t raced since September.
Nicholas T 100-1 (9-9) Dwelt in rear, never on terms, 8th of 10, 17 1/2l behind Berkshire Breeze (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Barenboim Evensfav (9-11) Steadied start, held up in rear, good headway out wide into 3rd over 2f out, went 2nd turning in, ridden and no extra inside final furlong, hung left soon after, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Solent Gateway (9-12) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (2) pol in Jan.
Pirate King 28-1 (9-2) Slow into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders approaching final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 7l behind Berkshire Breeze (8-7) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Shake A Leg (IRE) 18-1 (9-4) Took keen hold, led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 9th of 12, 6l behind True Courage (9-4) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Sep.
Buxted Too 5-4fav (9-13) Disputed close 3rd, good headway near side rail over 2f out, went 2nd 2f out, led soon after, clear when shaken up over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Jubilee Girl (9-2) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vega Sicilia 8-11fav (9-8) Held up towards rear, headway on outside over 3f out, soon ridden, wide final bend, ran on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Halic (9-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
