tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
slowly into stride, raced wide towards rear, headway 3f out, ridden to go 3rd over 1f out, no impression final furlong
close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
made all, 3 lengths clear 3f out, ridden out
held up, ridden and weakened 3f out
dwelt pushed along in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, not trouble leaders
tracked winner, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
ALPHA TAURI has the advantage of scoring over this course and distance on no less than four occasions, the only victories of his career. He went close again when narrowly beaten in a handicap on Thursday and looks a bit better class than this. If ever the term course specialist applied it is to Elusive Warrior, who never runs anywhere else these days and has a host of track victories behind him though he hasn't been anywhere near his best in his three latest starts. Bitaphon finished last here on Thursday but had won a handicap last month and that can't have been his true form and though River Ardeche doesn't win often he's gained both all-weather victories on this track.
Bitaphon (IRE) 7-1 (8-8) Chased leader until 4f out, soon puched along, weakened 3f out, last of 9, 16l behind Caldercruix (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Vitznau (IRE) 33-1 (9-4) Towards rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on into mid-division inside final furlong, never nearer, 10th of 14, 8l behind Flamborough Breeze (9-9) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Mucky Molly 33-1 (9-4) Prominent, led after 2f, ridden and edged right over 1f out, held on gamely, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-52 (6) fbs beating Bentley (8-12) by ns, 10 ran.
Alpha Tauri (USA) 10-1 (9-7) Led, clear 4f out, ridden 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Caldercruix (9-3) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Elusive Warrior (USA) 33-1 (8-4) Raced wide in touch, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, no impression from over 1f out, 5th of 13, 7l behind Greenhead High (9-1) at Southwell 6f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Feb.
River Ardeche 7-1 (9-1) Led 1f, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 9l behind Our Ivor (8-10) at Southwell 1m hacp 0-70 (5) fbs in Feb.
Tenbridge 25-1 (8-12) Outpaced, 7th of 8, 11l behind Amosite (9-1) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb.