held up in last pair, headway far side of group over 2f out, led going well inside final 2f, clear over 1f out, pushed along and ran on strongly, easily
close 3rd near side rail, pushed along over 2f out, soon lost 3rd, weakened inside final 2f
raced keenly tracking leader, lost 2nd over 1f out, carried head high and hung left inside final furlong, lost modest 3rd towards finish
held up in 4th, looking for room when switched right between horses inside final 2f, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace, no chance with easy winner
led, pushed along over 2f out, headed inside final 2f, soon lost 2nd, no extra inside final furlong
Fox Tal edges this at the weights and won a conditions race at Wolverhampton at this time last year. But he returns from a lengthy absence and EXCEL POWER (NAP) is preferred. Archie Watson’s charge won one of these events at Chelmsford before going close again at Wolverhampton last month and had the measure of Intuitive on both occasions. The latter should be in the mix once again but the remainder have a bit to find at the weights with Chichester arriving in better form than both Power Of States and Abolish.
Abolish 14-1 (9-3) Towards rear, ridden and weakened from over 1f out, 10th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Witch Hunter (9-11) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Chichester 9-4fav (9-4) In touch, shaken up 2f out, ridden and kept on from over 1f out, not pace to challenge, 4th of 7, 1/2l behind Civil Law (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Excel Power (IRE) 11-4 (9-12) Led 1f, pressed leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, just outpaced towards finish, promoted to 2nd, 3rd of 5, 1/2l behind Positive (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Fox Tal (9-1) 3rd of 12, 2l behind Outbox (9-2) at Doha 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Feb.
Intuitive (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Close 4th out wide, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and hung left from over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 5, 1 1/4l behind Positive (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec.
Power Of States (IRE) 17-2 (9-9) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Sea The Shells (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Jul.