chased leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression final furlong
made all, ridden well over 1f out, kept on final furlong
chased leaders on inside, ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd inside final furlong, never reached winner
slowly into stride, behind and soon driven, ridden 4f out, headway under pressure entering final furlong, switched right and stayed on final 75 yards, unable to reach leaders, nearest finish
behind on inside, chased leaders under pressure 2f out, weakened over 1f out
always behind
BENATO THE GREAT won his racecourse debut at Redcar before scoring with a bit in hand over C&D last month. David Nicholls' unbeaten gelding is worth sticking with here. He had Punching behind last time and that rival has since beaten Masked Dance and Harlech Castle at this track. The former can figure again, but there is a suspicion that Perlachy saves his best for the minimum trip at Wolverhampton these days and Silver Wind could prove a bigger threat dropping down a grade having been set a tough task here last time.
Masked Dance (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Went left start, chased leaders on outside, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Punching (8-12) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Dec.
Besty 10-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 10l behind Fantasy Gladiator (9-1) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Benato The Great (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Pulled hard, always prominent, driven to challenge over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, edged left, ran on, won at Southwell 6f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec beating Desert Strike (8-10) by 2l, 8 ran.
Punching 4-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, with leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Bonnie Prince Blue (8-12) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs.
Onceaponatime (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 4l behind Anne Of Kiev (9-6) at Lingfield 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Harlech Castle 8-1 (8-9) Outpaced towards rear, ridden halfway, headway on outside under pressure over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd final 100 yards unable to reach leading duo, 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Punching (8-12) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Dec.
Perlachy 14-1 (9-1) In touch, ridden halfway, kept on, not troubled leaders, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Incomparable (9-5) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Dec.
Silver Wind 33-1 (8-0) Pressed leader, led 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 9l behind Everymanforhimself (9-2) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.