behind, driven and headway over 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
towards rear, pushed along halfway, driven and headway over 2f out, ridden to chase winner final furlong
tracked leaders, driven over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, smooth headway to lead over 3f out, clear over 1f out, easily
led, headed after 1f and remained in touch, regained lead over 4f out, headed over 3f out, no extra final 2f
started slowly, driven to lead after 1f, pushed along and headed over 4f out, soon beaten
mid-division, driven over 5f out, never on terms
Peak Park gets the call here ahead of Tedstale and Spitting Image. Tedstale is reasonably weighted but has never won over this far, while Peak Park loves this course and distance and is just four pounds above a winning mark. For us, that stands up to inspection here. Other course and distance winners are Victory Quest, but he has not won since early in 2004, despite the fact that he is well-weighted based on that win, Spitting Image, who is six pounds above his track win last time from Tedstale (who is now five pounds better off for three lengths), and Stolen Song, although we prefer others to him today. That takes care of the course and distance winners. You can build a case for Romil Star and, much as he has been rarely tried over this far, it is worth another go. Barking Mad is potentially well-treated, but the trip is an unknown. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Peak Park.
Tedstale (USA) 6-1 (9-11) Held up, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, headed and no extra inside last, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Spitting Image (9-1) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Peak Park (USA) 9-2 (9-10) Chased leaders, pushed along 9f out, lost place 7f out and dropped to rear, kept on under strong pressure approaching final furlong, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Heathyards Pride (9-6) at Southwell 1m 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.
Victory Quest (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Prominent, reminders over 5f out, soon beaten, last of 8, well behind Khanjar (9-4) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Spitting Image (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, switched over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 2m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec beating Tedstale (9-11) by 3l, 8 ran.
Romil Star (GER) 12-1 (8-7) Raced wide, always in rear, weakened halfway, 6th of 8, 19l behind Kylkenny (9-0) at Southwell 1m 3f clm (6) fbs in Dec.
Barking Mad (USA) 9-1 (8-5) Led, driven and headed 4f out, soon beaten, 6th of 8, 30l behind Kylkenny (9-5) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Stolen Song 22-1 (9-0) Held up, reminded over 7f out, behind final 5f, last of 8, well behind Kylkenny (9-0) at Southwell 1m 3f clm (6) fbs in Dec.