took keen hold, disputed 2nd, not clear run and switched left 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd close home
raced wide disputed 2nd, slightly outpaced entering final 2f, ridden and ran on close home
slow into stride, close up, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra
Shorts On has the most recent form with a victory over 7f here but was due to run at Kempton yesterday. Odisseo showed progressive form last year ending with a win at Wolverhampton in October but something went amiss with Nasim in the same month when tailed off in Listed company at Pontefract. AL QAREEM has been gelded since scoring at Newcastle in December and with further progress expected now handicapping, Karl Burke’s charge gets the vote.
Odisseo 6-1 (9-1) Held up off the pace in last pair, good headway out wide over 1f out, quickened to lead and edged left inside final furlong, soon pushed clear, easily, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (4) pol in Oct beating Haunted Dream (8-12) by 1l, 8 ran.
Al Qareem (IRE) 5-6fav (9-5) Made virtually all, ridden over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, stayed on, just holding 2nd post, won at Newcastle 7f stks (5) pol in Dec beating Queen Aminatu (9-0) by shd, 10 ran.
Nasim 50-1 (9-3) Went left start, mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, left behind over 2f out, 9th of 11, dist behind Mr Professor (9-3) at Pontefract 1m lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Shorts On 5-1 (9-5) Held up, headway and switched left over 1f out, stayed on, led well inside final furlong, held on, won at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Feb beating Lady Lou (9-1) by nk, 8 ran.