held up, in touch, steady headway from 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, closed on winner near finish, just failed
held up, headway on outside over 6f out, chased leaders over 4f out, led well over 3f out, clear inside final 3f, hung left to far rail over 1f out, just held on
chased leaders, led 5f out until well over 3f out, chased winner after, well held when lost 2nd over 1f out, one pace
chased leaders, weakened over 5f out
made most to halfway, soon weakened, beaten and eased final 3f, tailed off
held up, in rear, struggling over 5f out, tailed off
pressed leader, led halfway until 5f out, still disputing 2nd over 1f out, one pace
Victory Quest has an enviable course record and has won when turned out quickly under a penalty before, but we just prefer the claims of SPRING BREEZE. John Quinn's gelding has run into two well treated rivals since returning to the flat, but with no obvious handicap snip lurking in this particular line-up perhaps compensation awaits. He runs off the same mark of 51 that saw him take second over course and distance last time and he stays the trip well, so we take the nine-year-old to get the better of Victory Quest. The admirable old boy has won 12 times on the Fibresand, the last of which coming a week ago over a couple of furlongs less. He's absolutely no problem staying two miles and has won back-to-back races on more than one occasion, but a 7lb penalty for his latest win makes life tougher and he might just find one too good today. Greenbelt acts here but was well behind Victory Quest last time and there has to be a doubt over the trip so he's easy to oppose along with Arisea, whose only form of note on the flat came in just about the worst maiden this course has staged and she's subsequently been beaten out of sight. Zaffeu is a more reliable proposition who has won off higher marks but his stamina may be stretched by two miles, as might that of Iceman George whose three victories have all come over 10 furlongs. Tempari has had less racing than most but looks moderate at best, Delorain has plenty to find with Arisea and looks comfortably held whilst handicap newcomer Davids City has more than one question to answer. This could quite easily develop into a match, one that we expect to be one by Spring Breeze.
Victory Quest (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon switched right, driven and headway entering final furlong, stayed on to lead post, won at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs beating Calculating (8-10) by hd, 5 ran.
Zaffeu 7-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 10l behind Boundless Prospect (8-8) at Southwell 1m 6f clm stks (6) fbs.
Greenbelt 10-1 (8-7) Led 1f, ridden over 3f out, weakend over 1f out, last of 5, 5l behind Victory Quest (8-12) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs.
Spring Breeze 3-1 (9-4) With leader, led after 4f, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Russian Music (9-13) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-60 (6) fbs in Jan.
Arisea (IRE) 14-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, never a factor, 8th of 13, 25l behind Aaman (9-0) at Southwell 1m 6f app hcp (0-55) (6) fbs in Jan.
Trempari 33-1 (8-11) Led early, stayed prominent, pushed along 4f out, behind 3f, 11th of 14, 15l behind Prince Charlemagne (10-0) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Davids City (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, gradually weakened, 8th of 12, 20l behind Ghufa (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol in Dec.
Delorain (IRE) 66-1 (9-10) Led after 1f, ridden and headed over 3f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4l behind Venture Capitalist (8-12) at Southwell 2m mdn stks (5) fbs in Jan.
Iceman George 7-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 22l behind All Guns Firing (9-4) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
