held up towards rear, steady headway out wide before 3 out, chased leaders after 3 out, went 2nd before omitted last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
raced keenly, led until 2 out, chased winner until before omitted last, weakened extended run-in
chased leaders early, lost place before 5th, towards rear and never on terms after
mid-division, flattened 3rd, headway tracking leaders 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led and hit 2 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, plugged on in modest 3rd after omitted last
raced out wide, held up in rear, never involved, tailed off
raced out wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders briefly before 3 out, pushed along and struggling towards rear soon after 3 out, tailed off
never closer than mid-division, towards rear and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
chased leader until before 2nd, handy 3rd until pushed along before 2 out, ridden and no extra in 4th extended run-in
mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
behind, pushed along in modest 7th before 2 out, plugged on extended run-in
chased leaders on inside, tracked leader before 2nd until before 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
EDGAR ALLAN POE came up with a massive improvement when securing honours at Catterick and is at least proven on a softer surface. Silkstone is a C&D specialist and has struck up a golden partnership with his conditional rider while Russian Virtue is clearly in great heart at present with successes over hurdles at Musselburgh and Newcastle under his belt and last week's spin back on the Flat was to also produce a positive result. Bridge Road is not without merit in this line-up though the ability to handle the prevailing going is an unknown while Wakey Wakey gets a substantial allowance as a four-year-old against his elders.
Bridge Road (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Towards rear, took closer order before 3 out, ridden next, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Dancewiththewind (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Bahtiyar (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, not fluent next, ran on at the one pace after last, 5th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Gilbertina (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Fearless Action (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 9, 29l behind Cianciana (10-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Russian Virtue 5-4fav (9-6) Raced wide, tracked leader, joined leader 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, pressed inside final furlong, asserted close home, won at Newcastle 1m 2f hcp (6) pol in Jan beating Rosa Del Rio (9-13) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Edgar Allan Poe (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, mistake 4 out, led after 3 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, soon ridden, jumped left last, rallied run-in and led towards finish, gamely, won at Catterick 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Miltiades (11-11) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
El Jefe (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Held up in rear, mistake 4 out, soon tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Russian Virtue (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Silkstone (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) Tracked leaders, left in close 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, soon pressed, pushed along and not fluent last, kept on, did enough, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Bashful (11-9) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Wakey Wakey (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, pushed along when weakening approaching 3 out, made no impression, 10th of 14, dist behind Start In Front (11-0) at Wetherby 2m (4) sft in Dec.
Bushmill Boy 15-2 (11-0) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace, 5th of 18, 14 1/4l behind Lone Star (10-13) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Calculus (IRE) 33-1 (8-13) Off the pace towards rear, never on terms, last of 9, 11 1/2l behind September Power (10-3) at Southwell 2m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Agent Empire (GER) 9-1 (10-2) Led, headed 3 out, soon pushed along, fading when pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Blame The Farrier (IRE) 250-1 (11-4) Raced wide in touch, ridden 4 out, pulled up next, at Newcastle 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
