towards rear, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
with leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well
held up in touch, weakened over 1f out
in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
led, headed over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
rear division, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, no extra towards finish
Dark Side Dream is usually thereabouts without being quite good enough and has just the one win in 26 starts. Fairway To Heaven is also a rare winner nowadays but ran well at Kempton last time but Fujin is 10lb higher than when landing a double last month. GRAMERCY missed most of last year and has changed trainers since his latest start at Lingfield. But the handicapper has taken a chance dropping him 7lb and he gets a speculative vote ahead of Buccaneers Vault, a runner-up here on his penultimate start.
Newstead Abbey 9-1 (9-7) Close up, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Shouranour (9-4) at Catterick 7f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Handsome Dude 20-1 (8-10) Close up, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Amazour (9-9) at Newcastle 6f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Extrasolar 5-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along and hanging left 4th andwhen not much room on rail over 1f out, eased when nno chance final furlong, last of 9, 19 3/4l behind King Crimson (9-5) at Brighton 5f hcp (4) gf in Aug.
Buccaneers Vault (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Took keen hold, chased winner until just over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Captain Dion (9-7) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Gramercy (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 10, 3 3/4l behind Flowers On Venus (9-10) at Lingfield 7f stks (6) pol in Feb.
Fairway To Heaven (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, went 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Dutch Golden Age (9-6) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Bahamian Dollar 14-1 (8-11) Mid-division on outside, pushed along over 2f out, weakened soon after, 12th of 13, 9l behind Intransigent (9-7) at Kempton 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Fujin 8-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, every chance 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 3l behind Custard The Dragon (9-8) at Southwell 7f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Merdon Castle (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Behind, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 8th of 12, 3l behind Free Code (9-2) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Dark Side Dream 9-2 (8-9) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, went 2nd just over 1f out, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Captain Dion (9-7) at Newcastle 6f hcp (4) pol in Jan.