slowly away, pushed along in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, nearest finish
taken to post early, raced wide prominent, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out
taken to post early, prominent, ridden halfway, led approaching final furlong, headed final strides
in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
raced wide in touch, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
chased leading trio, ridden 2f out, stayed on to lead final strides
taken to post early, chased leading trio, ridden and weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, soon weakened
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
MR STRUTTER beat the front-running First Excel by over three lengths over track and trip recently. He’s taken to confirm superiority with an apprentice’s allowance negating a 7lb rise and is also preferred to the frustrating Point Zero. The latter has returned a losing favourite here on the last three occasions now but Liamba ended the Turf season in good form and went close over track and trip on an earlier outing on the Fibresand. The remainder are harder to fancy though Archimedes won over the minimum trip here early last year.
Mr Strutter (IRE) 3-1 (9-3) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec beating First Excel (9-9) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Point Zero (IRE) 6-4fav (9-12) Pressed winner, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 2 1/4l behind Swiss Chime (8-6) at Southwell 5f stks (5) pol in Jan.
First Excel 11-8fav (9-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and just held on to 2nd, 2nd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Mr Strutter (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Always Amazing 33-1 (8-7) In rear, ridden halfway, never on terms, 9th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Classic Pursuit (9-7) at Southwell 5f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Liamba 3-1fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1l behind The Golden Cue (9-3) at Nottingham 5f hcp (6) sft in Oct.
The Golden Cue 40-1 (8-13) Towards rear, late headway, ran on, never nearer, 6th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Poeta Brasileiro (9-4) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Grise Lightning (FR) 6-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 10th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Tadaany (8-6) at Newcastle 6f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Archimedes (IRE) 13-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 5 3/4l behind Mininggold (9-7) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Blistering Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Led, edged left after 1f, hard driven when challenged over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, faded, 5th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Poppy May (9-6) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (7) pol in Dec.