led, headed over 9f out, lost ground over 6f, behind final 4f
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong
took keen hold in touch, led over 9f, ridden and headed over 3f out, one paced final 2f
held up mid-division, headway over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, led well over 1f out, driven out final furlong
towards rear, effort over 5f out, ridden over 2f out, no extra
prominent, ridden to lead over 3f out, headed over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, no extra final furlong
mid-division, headway over 6f out, ridden to lead over 2f out, hung left and headed well over 1f out, stayed on same pace
prominent, lost ground mile out, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
Pretty modest stuff with the enigmatic yet winless Tefi heading the weights. We will avoid him today in favour of runners who are better off at the weights. Toni Alcala took a similar contest at Wolverhampton in October before floundering over two miles. He does not have winning form at Southwell and with an absence to defy, we shall watch the market. David Barron's runners always merit respect at Southwell and Dean McKeown has been booked for the ride on Exclusive Air. The horse is plenty exposed in handicap company and is yet to truly show whether he stays further than a mile. Mister Sweets was well fancied before finishing second in a seven furlong maiden last week. He has had plenty of chances but it is interesting that he reverts back to a trip over which he originally began his career. El Pedro has been a disappointment to connections whilst backers of Jade's Promise will no doubt have some reservations about his ability to handle the surface. We will stick with Beady. He was a tad disappointing here over 1m6f but the going was very testing and he can be forgiven for that below par effort. As a dual winner over course and distance in handicap company , he looks the percentage call. Kristal Forest finished second to Parachute over course-and-distance in January and is given as the danger.
