dwelt towards rear, pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd close home
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2f out
raced wide close up, ridden and weakened over 1f out
awkwardly away in touch, ridden and headway to track leaders halfway, driven over 1f out, kept on same pace
led, joined over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd close home
tracked leader, joined leader over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon clear, eased inside final furlong
soon pushed along in rear, never on terms
Global Melody won a novices' race over 5f here at the end of last year but returned a losing favourite back in a handicap last time. Mr Strutter scored over track and trip on his penultimate start but could only manage fourth off today’s higher mark on his latest outing and given Newstead Abbey has struggled since winning here in Febuary, it could pay to stick with MARBLE BAR. The latter bids for a hat-trick of course and distance wins having beaten Katheefa a couple of lengths a week ago and Iain Jardine’s charge is taken to defy a penalty on that form.
Rock of Estonia (IRE) 11-2 (8-9) Went left start, held up in rear, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, never able to challenge, last of 7, 3 3/4l behind Treacherous (9-3) at Kempton 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
Mr Strutter (IRE) 7-4fav (9-9) Slowly away, pushed along in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind The Golden Cue (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Princely 14-1 (9-7) Went right start, pulled hard tracking leaders, wandered under pressure from over 1f out, soon beaten, 8th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Real Estate (9-4) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Global Melody 7-2fav (9-0) Always close up on inside, every chance over 1f out, ridden and not quicken inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/4l behind Bellevarde (9-4) at Southwell 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Marble Bar 13-8fav (8-9) Broke smartly, made all, pushed along over 1f out, ran on, won at Southwell 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar beating Katheefa (8-13) by 2l, 8 ran.
Katheefa (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Marble Bar (8-9) at Southwell 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.
Newstead Abbey 15-2 (9-1) Awkwardly away, towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Kupa River (9-6) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (5) pol in Mar.