chased leaders towards far side, led going well over 2f out, clear final furlong, stayed on well, ridden out
chased leaders near side, pushed along 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 2f out, stayed on from well over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, hung right soon after, no chance with winner
took keen hold, chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and weakened soon after
led 2f, prominent, led again briefly over 2f out, chased winner until 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
pressed leader, led 6f out, pushed along and headed over 2f out, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
race dkeenly, chased leaders near side, went 2nd and every chance 2f out, soon edged left, ridden over 1f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace
Plenty with claims in this opener but TRICORN needed only to be pushed out to win a maiden at Wolverhampton last month so is just preferred to fellow handicap debutant Faience, though the latter won a maiden at Chelmsford recently with a couple of subsequent winners behind. Marzouq should be sharper for a recent comeback run at Kempton while the more-exposed Major Cornwallis went close on his reappearance here when ahead of Naupaka. Dream Team and Ronnie The Rooster were both course and distance winners last year but have been beaten off higher marks since.
Tricorn (IRE) 1-4fav (8-11) Made all, driven over 1f out, easily, won at Wolverhampton 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Invincible Man (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Marzouq (USA) 11-4 (9-7) Held up, pushed along on outside over 3f out, driven and edged right over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Tai Hang Dragon (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Dream Team 5-2 (9-3) Held up towards rear and in touch, weakened over 2f out, tailed off, last of 5, 32 3/4l behind Upgrade (9-1) at Southwell 1m hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Faience 8-1 (8-4) With leader, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, held on towards finish, won at Chelmsford City 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Dubai Waves (8-4) by nk, 7 ran.
Major Cornwallis (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Keen, tracked leader, effort over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on same pace closing stages, 3rd of 5, 1/2l behind Killermont Street (9-3) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Naupaka 9-2 (9-7) Steadied start, held up in touch, outpaced over 3f out, kept on over 1f out, faded final furlong, last of 5, 3 1/2l behind Killermont Street (9-3) at Newcastle 1m hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Ronnie The Rooster 9-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, tracked leaders, ridden when pace quickened over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression final furlong, last of 4, 2 3/4l behind Mystique Moon (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (4) pol in Feb.
