slowly into stride, in touch on outside, hard driven over 4f out, soon lost place, rallied over 1f out, never a threat
held up in touch, under pressure over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
went right start, tracked leaders, under pressure over 4f out, soon weakened
led until over 7f out, hard driven over 3f out, no impression on easy winner
went right start, tracked leader, led over 7f out, 8 lengths clear over 2f out, impressive
in touch, outpaced over 5f out, rallied over 1f out, staye don, never a threat
Nonrunner
PLAY NICELY lost a weight cloth when his saddle slipped over 1m2f at Redcar and he was duly disqualified having passed the post first. But he won his maiden on the Fibresand and is expected to last home as he steps up in distance. Step On It finished just ahead of Yulong Xiongba when runner-up over 1m4f at Wolverhampton and that pair are hard to separate while Vastly's only win to date came at Wolverhampton in 2014 and the remainder arrive out of form.
Astra Hall 22-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, in rear, ridden halfway, never on terms, 9th of 12, 16l behind Frosty Berry (9-2) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Nov.
Vastly (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, never going pace to threaten, 6th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Bogardus (8-12) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Social Climber (IRE) 10-1 (8-0) Close up in rear, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, dist behind The Quarterjack (8-13) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Yulong Xiongba (IRE) 5-2 (9-6) Led 1f, tracked leader, bumped over 2f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on to chase winner inside final furlong, held when lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Innish Man (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Play Nicely 11-2jfav (10-0) Tracked leader, led after 3f, pressed from over 1f out, kept on well towards finish, won at Redcar 1m 2f hcp (6) sft in Oct beating Rainford Glory (10-0) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Geeaitch 9-2 (9-2) Raced wide, in touch, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Dark Diamond (9-6) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Step On It (IRE) 7-4fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, driven when not clear run inside final 2f, switched right and ridden over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Innish Man (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp (6) pol in Dec.