towards rear, ridden along halfway, some late headway, never reached challenging position
prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt and towards rear, soon chased along, headway on inner over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon beaten
tracked leader, led 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home
chased leaders, ridden along halfway, driven over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, kept on
One or two recent winners on view and Came Back should be capable of seeing off Qadar and Cerebus. Came Back has proved a revelation in recent months and he won "hard held" at the track last week. The handicapper will eventually catch up with him but on that evidence, a penalty should not stop him. Qadar has dropped massively down the weights. A fast pace should assist him although that losing run is offputting. Cerebus won recently over the minimum trip. She did it convincingly and whilst a step up in trip isn't a problem, this is a much tougher assignment and she is invariably vulnerable to progressive types. Makshoof makes a debut on the surface and could be anything. Lethal is potentially well treated off some of his earlier form and should have no problems with race fitness. Swinbrook shaped well at Pontefract last week and will be racing off the same mark here. Count Cougar appears weighted to his best. Came Back is in unstoppable form at present and we seek no reason to take him on.
Qadar (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) In touch, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 8l behind Markab (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Mar.
Makshoof (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, effort and every chance over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 21, 3 1/2l behind Gunfighter (8-13) at Doncaster 7f app hcp (4) gf in Nov.
Cerebus 2-1fav (9-1) With leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept up to work inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Southwell 5f fll hcp (5) fbs in Mar beating Tilly's Dream (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Count Cougar (USA) 11-2 (9-4) Led, ridden when headed 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, last of 7, 8l behind Stolt (9-0) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Lethal 5-2 (9-13) Led for over 1f, tracked leader afterwards, lost 2nd over 1f out weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 5l behind Another Genepi (9-2) at W'hampton 6f clm (5) pol in Mar.
Swinbrook (USA) 9-2fav (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 16, hd behind Winthorpe (8-10) at Pontefract 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Mar.
Came Back (IRE) Evensfav (9-4) Keen, tracked leader, shaken up to lead 2f out, edged right entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Mar beating Dickie Le Davoir (8-10) by 3l, 6 ran.
