keen close up, ridden when headway to chase clear winner over 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden halfway, kept on final furlong, never nearer
prominent, led over 3f out, clear over 1f out, eased final furlong, comfortable
led, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened approaching final furlong
raced wide tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, driven and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on under strong pressure final furlong, nearest finish
outpaced, ridden over 3f out, never on terms
raced very wide pushed along early in mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
BARBS PRINCESS was returning from a long break when scrambling home in a handicap at Wolverhampton last month. She was entitled to improve for the run and certainly did so when she came here last week and gained a comprehensive victory so a penalty shouldn't prevent a follow-up. Viva Verglas has generally raced in better company and was only beaten a short-head over the course and distance in December so he looks a threat. Oriental Relation is 2lb higher than when beaten into fourth here last month while Bond Fastrac was beaten in a seller here last time and has never won on an artificial surface. Minister Of Fun was a 20/1 chance when landing a poor maiden here in December but was conceding 12lb to the 59-rated runner-up so a mark of 67 looks reasonably lenient.
Viva Verglas (IRE) 5-1fav (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 6th of 12, 3l behind Guishan (9-5) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Barbs Princess 9-4 (9-5) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to challenge on outside over 2f out, shaken up to lead inside final 2f, clear inside final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 6f fll hcp (0-75) (5) fbs in Jan beating Musical Molly (9-0) by 5l, 4 ran.
Pea Shooter 12-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and hung right over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 2l behind Polski Max (9-7) at Catterick 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Oct.
Ace Master 12-1 (8-6) With leader, ridden 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Rich Again (8-11) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) in Jan.
Desert Strike 16-1 (9-1) In rear, well beaten over 2f out, last of 8, 13l behind Dynamo Walt (8-9) at Chelmsford City 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Oriental Relation (IRE) 3-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 4l behind Scarborough (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Jan.
Street Force (USA) 11-2 (9-8) Pressed leader, led narrowly over 4f out to 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 18l behind Ian's Memory (9-13) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) fbs in Jan.
Bond Fastrac 16-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, outpaced in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Thorpe Bay (8-9) at Southwell 5f sell stks (6) fbs in Jan.
Minister Of Fun 20-1 (9-5) Dwelt, took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Southwell 6f mdn stks (5) fbs in Dec beating Deftera Fantutte (8-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
