taken to post early, tracked leaders, chased winner 3f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
in rear, ridden and headway 2f out, switched right 1f out, ran on to go 2nd final strides
close up, ridden and headway 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, lost 2nd final strides
took keen hold, close up, ridden and headway to chase winner over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
raced wide towards rear, effort 3f out, weakened over 1f out
raced wide towards rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on final furlong, not reach leaders
soon outpaced and behind
soon pushed along in rear, never on terms
pushed along to press winner, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
made most, ridden and pressed from over 2f out, driven out, gamely
Desert Strike may be dropped in class but has done all his winning over shorter trips and none have been on the Fibresand. FLYING PICKETS makes more appeal as he was beaten only a length over a mile here on Wednesday and can go one better back over today's distance. Wolverhampton winner Frontier Fighter is not out of this after three starts on Polytrack and Bassett Road has claims if taking to the track as he beat Royal Holiday also at Wolverhampton last month. Mazovian, Victorian Bounty and Bitaphon are all course winners with the latter preferred over today's 7f trip.
Desert Strike 10-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 8, 6l behind M J Woodward (8-10) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Flying Pickets (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) Dwelt in touch, headway on inside 2f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, edged right and kept on one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Caledonia Prince (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4yo clm stks 0-70 (6) fbs.
Frontier Fighter 4-1 (9-1) Chased leader over 1f, went 2nd again 3f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased leader until well inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind The Guru Of Gloom (9-1) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Bassett Road (IRE) 3-1fav (9-13) Held up, ridden 3f out, well beaten over 2f out, last of 8, 26l behind Nant Saeson (8-13) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Caramelita 12-1 (9-6) Held up in rear, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 6th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Al Freej (9-4) at Lingfield 1m fll hcp (0-75) (5) pol in Jan.
Mazovian (USA) 7-1 (7-12) Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 9, 10l behind Aubrietia (8-13) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Final Drive (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Dwelt, soon tracked leaders, faded over 1f out, 6th of 9, 9l behind Canary Wharf (9-4) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Victorian Bounty 25-1 (9-4) Held up in last pair, outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 6l behind Restless Bay (9-5) at Lingfield 6f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan.
Royal Holiday (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Chased leader, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Bassett Road (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Bitaphon (IRE) 9-4fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, hampered and steadied after 1f, in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, driven to challenge winner inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Prince James (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
