tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened after 1f out
tracked leader, niggled along after 3f out, weakened quickly after 2f out
towards rear, headway when ridden before 1f out, kept on well final furlong
slowly away and held up towards rear, edged left and some headway when ridden 2f out, weakened after 1f out
towards rear, pushed along and brief headway after 3f out, outpaced when ridden 2f out, well held after 1f out
tracked leader, smooth headway and travelling easy near the lead 2f out, coasted alongside leader between 2f out and 1f out, eased to the lead after 1f out, pushed out final 110 yards for an easy win
led, shaken up and pressed by the winner after 2f out, kept on well when ridden but headed 110 yards out and no match for the winner
FLYIN’ HIGH is penalised for winning over course and distance but both placed horses have subsequently won so the form looks solid. Andrew Balding’s three-year-old receives weight from the older horses on these terms and can go in again. Night Ranger went close over track and trip in December with Big Muddy back in fourth and the latter has since placed at Southwell while Raiff won an all-weather bumper over 2m at Lingfield back in November and debuts in this code. Floating Rock also debuts on the Flat having shown good progress over hurdles last year while the newcomer Kehailaan cost €75,000 as the first foal of a winner in Australia.
Big Muddy 16-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden on outside 3f out, headway to chase leader o2f out, ran on final furlong but no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9 1/2l behind Mehmento (8-10) at Southwell 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan.
Blueskyandsunshine (IRE) 28-1 (9-2) Raced wide in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Byford (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Feb.
Floating Rock (GER) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up in mid-division, hit 5th, headway chasing leaders after 3 out, went 2nd before next, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Sidi Ismael (11-9) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
Joeljalu 22-1 (10-7) Midfield, ridden and headway 3f out, in touch 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Argonauta (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (5) pol in Jan.
Raiff (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division, smooth headway on outside tracking leader 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on well, won at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Nov beating Restandbethankful (11-7) by 5l, 12 ran.
Strong Team (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 3f out, not much room over 2f out, held inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Busy Street (11-10) at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Flyin' High 8-11fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along to lead approaching 2f out, soon pressed, asserted towards finish, won at Newcastle 1m stks (4) pol in Jan beating Glen Again (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Kehailaan (IRE) Gleneagles colt out of Defrost My Heart.
Night Ranger 22-1 (9-6) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, went 2nd and edged left over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 11, hd behind Duel In The Sun (9-6) at Newcastle 1m stks (5) pol in Dec.