slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway and switched left entering final furlong, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd post
led, pulled hard, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt, soon chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, pushed clear
tracked leaders, edged left over 3f out, ridden to chase winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd post
tracked leaders, short of room and hampered and lost place over 3f out
in touch, raced wide, outpaced halfway, driven and kept on under pressure final furlong
XPRES MAITE gets the nomination in this tight little handicap where Ingleby Arch and Realt Na Mara are also expected to be on the premises. Realt Na Mara won in a gritty manner here last month and, from just a 3lb higher mark, he has feasible chance of being a threat. Having said that, he has struggled off this mark in the past and, despite the lack of numbers, he needs luck on his side. Ingleby Arch is already a triple winner at Southwell and, despite a 6lb rise for a c&d win last November, he is not badly treated at present. A strong pace will suit him ideally and a bold show cannot be ruled out. However, Xpress Maite has the edge when all the relative form is collated and, as such he is taken to edge a narrow verdict today.
Xpres Maite 5-1 (8-13) Held up, headway 2f out, driven to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Jan beating Charles Parnell (9-1) by 2l, 7 ran.
Came Back (IRE) 7-1 (8-5) Prominent, under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 7, 7l behind Matsunosuke (9-3) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jan.
Ingleby Arch (USA) 11-4 (8-7) Chased leaders over 4f, 8th of 9, 14l behind Matsunosuke (9-4) at Great Leighs 6f hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Dec.
Bo McGinty (IRE) 22-1 (8-13) Raced keenly behind, headway inside final 2f, kept on, not troubled leaders, 4th of 9, 2l behind Chjimes (8-10) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Thoughtsofstardom 25-1 (7-13) Held up in rear, pushed along and kept on final furlong, nearest finish, 6th of 8, 5l behind Matsunosuke (9-6) at Lingfield 5f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Realt Na Mara (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Chased leaders, driven over 1f, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, kept on, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Jan beating Jack Rackham (9-4) by a nk, 11 ran.