Thorny Mandate is selected here ahead of Norwegian and Undeterred. A 60-rated Pontefract winner last season - he now races off 59 - Thorny Mandate has been given a chance by the handicapper again and can make it pay today. Norwegian is not ruled out from five pounds above a winning mark, while Prince Of Medina has been running well but over two miles. Qualitair Wings needs to build on his most-recent Turf efforts but Undeterred is well-weighted based on his winning form of last summer. Kavachi has reasonable prospects based on his best 2006 form, while Sol Rojo and Bavarica need career-best Turf efforts if they are to feature. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Thorny Mandate.
Le Corvee (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Always in rear, 11th of 12, 11l behind Lisathedaddy (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Sol Rojo 7-2 (11-10) Held up, headway 3f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Blue Hedges (10-12) at W'hampton 1m 6f amt hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Bavarica 6-1 (8-8) Held up, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 7l behind Jeu d'Esprit (8-12) at Southwell 1m 3f fll hcp (4) fbs.
Prince Zafonic 25-1 (8-5) Always towards rear, 10th of 12, 23l behind Escayola (9-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Nov.
Undeterred 66-1 (8-12) Prominent on outer, lost touch over 4f out, well behind over 2f out, tailed off, last of 5, 26l behind Blue Ksar (9-2) at Lingfield 1m 2f stk (2) gs.
Thorny Mandate 25-1 (9-2) Took keen hold and prominent, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 11l behind Montchara (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Qualitair Wings 25-1 (8-4) Held up, headway over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 5th of 15, 10l behind Street Life (8-6) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Prince of Medina 3-1fav (8-10) Took keen hold in touch, led after 5f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakening when snatched up 1f out, 9th of 13, 13l behind Treetops Hotel (9-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Oct.
Norwegian 9-2fav (8-10) Held up mid-division, weakened final furlong, 11th of 17, 3 1/2l behind Jill Dawson (9-0) at Warwick 1m app hcp (6) gf.
Golden Alchemist 7-1 (8-11) Ridden to be close up, ridden and lost place over 3f out, 8th of 9, 10l behind White Bear (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Apr.
Royal Sailor (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Very slowly into stride, always behind, 14th of 17, well behind Ronsard (11-1) at Bath 2m 1f amt hcp (6) gf.
Bond Cruz 66-1 (8-7) Behind when pulled up in race won by Opera Writer (9-3) at Southwell 1m 3yo clm (5) fbs in Jul, 13 ran.
Chisel 66-1 (8-0) Close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 12th of 13, 11l behind Kareeb (9-1) at Newmarket 7f app hcp (5) gd in Jun '05.
Kavachi (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 7l behind Harvest Warrior (11-1) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
