tracked leader, quickly lost place before 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, headway 4 out, hit 2 out, soon chased winner, always held
in rear, outpaced 5 out, soon tailed off
mid-division, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out
led, headed 2 out, weakened after last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Politbureau was only sixth behind Beyondtemptation over course and distance in December, with Birthday Guest further behind, but has improved a little of late and there may not be much between the pair on today's revised terms. Deny has gone up 8lb since winning at Catterick and might struggle but the returning Sparkling Hand is worth a market check as she's won twice here and isn't badly treated. ALIZEE DE JANEIRO ran a couple of nice races last month at Ayr and Musselburgh. The likely strong pace in this should play to her strengths and she can open her account at the sixth time of asking.
Sam Lord 25-1 (11-7) Towards rear, weakened from 4 out, 11th of 15, well behind Milan Flyer (10-9) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Sparkling Hand 4-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4th and lost place, weakened from 6th, tailed off, 7th of 10, 37l behind Be My Present (11-8) at Hexham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Seventeen Black (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced after 3 out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, 47l behind Shades Of Midnight (10-7) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Politbureau 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, every chance 3 out, ridden before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Billy Two Tongues (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
Alizee De Janeiro (FR) 11-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Kashstaree (10-3) at Musselburgh 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Birthday Guest (GER) 12-1 (10-7) Led, headed before 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 20l behind Beatabout The Bush (11-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Deny 7-2fav (10-3) Mid-division, headway after 3rd, challenged 2 out, led when not fluent last, soon bumped and headed, stayed on to lead again towards finish, won at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Jan beating Amtired (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Beyondtemptation 7-1 (9-10) Led, headed before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 11, 21l behind Cadore (11-1) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan.
Ardesia (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Behind, reminder after 3rd, struggling next, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Orchard Road (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Ceilidh (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) In rear, blundered 4th, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 26l behind Captain Sharpe (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Dec.
