very slowly away, in rear and detached, headway on inner over 2f out, never a factor
chased winner until ridden to challenge over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
made all, ridden and pressed over 1f out, kept on well towards finish
in touch and keen, ridden and weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on and held towards finish
MAN OF MY WORD made all to beat the re-opposing Flying Pickets four lengths over track and trip last Tuesday. It's hard to see the runner-up reversing running as Scott Dixon's charge is likely to get his own way up front once again. Point At Issue may try taking him on but his win came over 7f here and he may be tapped for toe, while Laura's Bairn hasn't been seen since recording her Fibresand victory in a maiden over 5f back in August. Laffan is an unknown on the surface but could prove the fly in the ointment on his first start since July.
Flying Pickets (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) Slowly away, outpaced in rear, headway over 1f out, soon hung right under pressure, never dangerous, 6th of 8, 4l behind Man Of My Word (8-11) at Southwell 6f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Man Of My Word 16-1 (8-11) Made all, hard ridden over 1f out, ran on well, won at Southwell 6f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec beating Sunny Side Up (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Laffan (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Singalat (9-3) at Redcar 6f 2yo mdn (5) gf in Jul.
Laura's Bairn 25-1 (9-3) Chased leaders to over 2f out, soon weakened, eased final furlong, tailed off, last of 10, 44l behind Darnathean (9-4) at Kempton 6f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Sep.
Point At Issue (IRE) 13-8fav (8-9) Prominent, led over 5f out, clear over 2f out, ridden and headed 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Barn Dance (8-12) at Southwell 1m 2yo clm stks (6) fbs in Dec.