always behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden and headway 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leader, clear with leader after 2nd, ridden and weakened 2 out
in rear, ridden and hit 3 out, effort next, soon weakened
held up, hit 1st, ridden and headway 2 out, weakened next
chased clear leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, headed flat, kept on
in touch in chasing group, effort from 2 out, ridden to lead flat, kept on
keen and led, clear with one other 2nd, ridden and tried to duck out 3 out, headed and hit 2 out, soon weakened
in touch in chasing group, outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway 2 out, every chance last, kept on
First-time headgear on War Party and Bold Policy add an element of spice, however KINGS TROOP looks fairly-treated and aptly-named and is preferred to Posh Emily. Alan King's four-year-old is less experienced than all of his rivals however there is plenty of promise to be gleaned from his run behind Open Day here last time out. He doesn't look 'thrown-in' on a mark of 113 but there should be more improvement to come and a bold bid is expected. Jordan's Light has been holding his form well at a lowly level but a 4lb rise for a second in selling grade in February looks extremely harsh. War Party has been well-held since moving into handicap company and the grader has been slow to react with just a 6lb drop in the weights in total, Posh Emily is a smooth-traveller who has been holding her form well since winning at Taunton in November, whilst Spare Me needs a market check on this return from an absence. Vertueux needs to step up on his recent claiming run, and so it is Kings Troop who receives the vote.
War Party 16-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, pushed along after 5th, behind next, never in contention, 5th of 9, well behind Marodima (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Jordan's Light (USA) 9-2fav (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway 5th, led on long run to 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Tempting Paradise (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Bold Policy (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, pushed along after 4th, never dangerous, 7th of 12, well behind Putney Bridge (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) sft in Feb.
Kings Troop 20-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, held up in rear, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 10, 29l behind Open Day (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Ready Or Not (IRE) 66-1 (11-1) Held up, mid-division, headway 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, hit last, soon weakened, 4th of 16, 25l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Spare Me 10-1 (11-10) Prominent, ridden and weakening when not fluent 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Super Ross (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Feb '09.
Posh Emily 9-2 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 5th, led briefly 3 out, chased winner after, every chance 2 out, ridden and 1 length down when blundered last, held flat, 2nd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Ban Uisce (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Mista Rossa 12-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, prominent, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 27l behind Zen Factor (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Vertueux (FR) 22-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, ridden and outpaced approaching last, kept on, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 11, 9l behind Santera (10-6) at Doncaster 2m clm hdl (4) gd.
