close up, pushed along halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
raced very wide throughout, held up, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
in touch, ridden halfway, not trouble leaders
raced wide held up, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out
in touch, short lived effort over 1f out
pressed leader, clear with leader halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
raced wide tracked leading pair, ridden halfway, weakened inside final furlong
close up, pushed along and slightly outpaced over 3f out, ridden and headway 2f out, stayed on towards finish
led, clear with winner halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
in rear, ridden halfway, soon weakened, eased over 1f out, tailed off
NonRunner
African Blessing won a maiden here last year and has won off a higher mark than today subsequently. But FIRST EXCEL (NAP) has won two of only three starts on the Fibresand including his latest outing and Roy Bowring’s charge gets the nod to gain another victory. Viva Verglas is not badly treated on previous winning form here and Vroom won a claimer over track and trip early this year while Appleberry and Pearl Acclaim have both slid down the weights with the former preferred on this surface.
African Blessing 6-1 (9-0) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Fredricka (9-7) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Dodgy Bob 20-1 (9-7) Chased leaders in centre, driven over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 6th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Ocean Temptress (9-6) at Leicester 6f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Vroom (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 6l behind Roaring Rory (8-13) at Southwell 5f stks (6) pol in Nov.
Appleberry (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Keen tracked leader, ridden 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 7th of 14, 14l behind Monsieur Jimmy (9-7) at Southwell 1m hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Viva Verglas (IRE) 50-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, some headway final furlong, no impression, 8th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Spirit Of Belle (9-3) at Kempton 7f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
First Excel 13-2 (9-3) Made all, ridden 2 lengths clear 2f out, driven out, won at Southwell 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov beating Bold Spirit (9-2) by nk, 13 ran.
Pearl Acclaim (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Chased winner, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Entertaining Ben (9-6) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Meandmyshadow 6-1 (9-5) Driven forward from wide draw to press leader, lost place well over 1f out, 10th of 13, 9 1/4l behind A Sure Welcome (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Declamation (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Chased winner, ridden 2f out, lost 2nd approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Cosy Club (8-11) at Ayr 7f hcp (6) gd in Jul.
Willbeme 20-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Breathoffreshair (9-5) at Newcastle 6f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Malaysian Boleh 33-1 (9-7) Outpaced, ridden halfway, ran on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Entertaining Ben (9-6) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
