held up towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before last
towards rear, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked winner to 4 out, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, kept on and went 3rd run-in
tracked leaders and keen, chased winner from 4 out, kept on same pace from next
made all, clear before 2 out, kept on well
held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, weakened run-in
held up towards rear, headway 6 out, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before last, weakened run-in
held up towards rear, pushed along before 2 out, soon headway, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
An 11lb hike in the weights proved beyond Kelso winner Teo Vivo at Musselburgh last time but he still ran well for second and has the beating of Dark Dune on collateral form. It remains to be seen how Smooth Stepper copes with a 10lb rise as he bids for a hat-trick after his latest win at Wetherby and Desoto County steps up in class on the back of a comeback run at Musselburgh. FISHER (NAP) has had a spin on the all-weather since finishing behind Ruacana in a more competitive contest at Musselburgh on New Year's Day. John Quinn's charge looks to have an easier task in this and gets the nod to return to winning ways.
Fisher 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 10, 14l behind Ruacana (10-10) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Shrapnel (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Held up, always behind, struggling 4 out, 6th of 9, 47l behind Sa Suffit (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Smooth Stepper 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led run-in, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan beating Mr Grey (11-1) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Midnight Game 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, effort before 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 28l behind Retrieve (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd.
Dark Dune (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Streets Of Newyork (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Teo Vivo (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Prominent, in 2nd when pecked 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Streets Of Newyork (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Desoto County 7-2fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 3rd before 3 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, weakened run-in, 7th of 13, 9l behind Waltz Darling (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Sky Khan 15-2 (10-11) In rear, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on into mid-division approaching last, never near leaders, 8th of 13, 13l behind Roman Flight (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-140) (3yo+) (3) gd in Oct.
Fleet Dawn 20-1 (10-9) Always in rear, tailed off before 2 out, 16th of 17, well behind Exitas (9-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep.
