steadied start, keen in rear, outpaced over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
keen tracked leaders, went 2nd 10f out until 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leader until 10f out, went 2nd again 7f out, pushed along and every chance over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, led final strides
set steady pace, pushed along and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
awkwardly away, held up towards rear, headway stand side entering final 2f, shaken up to lead, over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, rider dropped rein towards finish, headed final strides
Nate The Great was beaten by Zeeband at Wolverhampton last month having also found IMPERIUM too good at Kempton back in December. The latter has now won six of eights starts on the all-weather having scored again at Kempton more recently and looks the one to beat if proving as effective on the Tapeta. A Northumberland Plate winner, Nicholas T is at his best here and landed a conditions' race over track and trip last time despite the unfavourable terms while Onesmoothoperator is upped in trip and Ecco returns to the Flat for the first time since his three-year-old days in Germany back in 2018.
Nicholas T 14-1 (9-3) Slowly away, held up in last, headway from under 3f out, challenged 2f out and soon led, ridden over 1f out, ran on well, won at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Dec beating Rainbow Dreamer (9-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Imperium (IRE) 7-4 (9-12) Last to break, soon 3rd, went 2nd 3f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) pol in Jan beating King's Advice (9-8) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Zeeband (IRE) 11-4 (9-12) Tracked leaders, led halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, won at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (2) pol in Feb beating Military Two Step (9-2) by 1l, 4 ran.
Nate The Great 10-11fav (9-11) Set steady pace, headed halfway, tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, kept on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Zeeband (9-12) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Ecco 7-2 (11-10) In touch, mistake 2nd, dropped to last after 4th, headway 7th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, eased approaching last, last of 5, dist behind Press Your Luck (11-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Onesmoothoperator (USA) 13-8fav (9-5) Prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Sir Chauvelin (9-8) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Feb.
