tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, driven out
led, ridden 3f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong
tracked leader, pushed along to chase winner over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, driven and stayed on towards finish
Five of FLYING PICKETS' six wins to date have come over track and trip and he just failed to catch Bitaphon back here on Sunday. Alan McCabe's charge can go one better in this given he finished a couple of lengths in front of today's rival Fluctuation when runner-up on his penultimate start. Frequency has every chance at the weights but his all-weather victories have all been recorded on the Polytrack so far while course regular Elusive Warrior has plenty to find in this company and hasn't won since 2010.
Flying Pickets (IRE) 3-1fav (9-6) In rear, ridden and headway 2f out, switched right 1f out, ran on to go 2nd final strides, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Bitaphon (8-9) at Southwell 7f hacp 0-70 (5) fbs.
Elusive Warrior (USA) 8-1 (8-13) Dwelt in touch, clipped heels and stumbled entering final 4f, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 11l behind Marshall Art (9-2) at Southwell 6f sll hcp 0-60 (6) fbs.
Fluctuation (IRE) 6-1 (8-9) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Caledonia Prince (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4yo clm stks 0-70 (6) fbs.
Frequency 7-1 (9-11) Reared over in stalls, last to break, in rear, stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 6, 2 3/4l behind Clubland (9-5) at Wolverhampton 6f clm stks 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
