held up, smooth headway over 3f out, led 2f out, clear over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
in rear, weakened over 2f out
chased leaders, led over 2f out, soon headed, one pace
led, headed 4f out, soon ridden and weakened
chased leader, led 4f out, headed over 2f out, one pace
held up in touch, weakened over 1f out
This does not look to be the strongest of races and it is hard to get away from David Wintle's Yakimov who comes into this in good form, handles the surface and should stay this far, so he gets the vote to win again, with the main threats rated as Global Traffic and Starcross Maid. The last mentioned certainly has no problems with the trip but is not in the best of form at present so she may be best watched. Wickedish has disappointed over hurdles of late and is hard to recommend back on the level, while stable companion Cavallo Di Ferro has been well held in recent starts on the flat and over timber. Derek Shaw's Global Traffic has been running more consistently of late and has to be respected in this contest but preference is for the in-form Yakimov who is taken to win again.
Yakimov (USA) 2-5fav (9-7) Held up, improved to track leader over 3f out, led over 2f out, soon clear, heavily eased, won at Southwell 1m clm (6) fbs in Feb beating Sweet World (9-3) by 12l, 5 ran.
Global Traffic 5-4fav (9-0) Dwelt, held up in touch, improved halfway, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out, 4th of 8, 13l behind Ming Vase (8-11) at Southwell 1m 3f sll (6) fbs.
Starcross Maid 4-1 (9-2) Held up last but in touch, went 3rd over 3f out, ridden and kept on one pace final 2f, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Exit to Luck (9-12) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Feb.
Cavallo di Ferro (IRE) 28-1 (8-8) Close up 4th, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 10l behind Under Fire (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Dot's Delight 13-2 (8-5) Keen, tracked leaders, ridden 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 8, 12l behind Zaffeu (9-1) at Southwell 1m 6f clm (6) fbs.
Wickedish 12-1 (8-7) Held up, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 27l behind Karmest (8-7) at Southwell 1m 3f app hcp (6) fbs in Jan.