tracked winner until pushed along halfway, remained handy, rallied to press winner again over 1f out, not quicken towards finish
raced wide close up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, no impression final furlong
taken to post early, keen made all, ridden and pressed from over 1f out, edged right and stayed on gamely inside final furlong
tracked leaders, tracked winner halfway until ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
raced wide in touch in rear, ridden and weakened over 2f out
This looks a race in which to tread carefully as we have the unusual situation of none of the runners in a handicap at the track having tackled this surface before. Mabo showed improved form to score last time and now steps up a grade while both Mametz Wood and How Bizarre have shown respectable form in this sort of grade as juveniles - the latter having also made a pleasing reappearance when runner-up at Newcastle in late January. But it may be worth taking a chance on MOLTOIR, who now has a first run for the Ellison yard after showing acceptable form in Irleand when trained by Jim Bolger. He'll stay the trip and hopefully will handle his first experience of Fibresand.
Mametz Wood (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Tracked leaders, improved over 3f out, driven over 1f out, held by winner final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Up Sticks And Go (9-2) at Redcar 7f stks (5) sft in Nov.
Moltoir (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) In rear, pushed along halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out and went 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Drombeg Dream (9-8) at Cork 1m hcp sft in Oct.
How Bizarre 5-1 (8-13) Soon led, clear over 4f out until 3f out, headed 1f out, held inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind The British Lion (9-4) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
The Night King 7-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Darkest Light (8-10) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Pact Of Steel 25-1 (9-2) Raced keenly, chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Marshal Dan (9-6) at Lingfield 7f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Mabo 17-2 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden along over 2f out, headway near side of group chasing leaders over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on to lead close home, won at Newcastle 7f hcp (6) pol in Mar beating Elysee Star (9-8) by 1/2l, 8 ran.