slowly into stride, held up on outside, ridden, hung left and effort well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
took keen hold, headway to lead over 4f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
prominent, steadied 5f out, headway going well over 2f out, ridden to challenge and edged left inside final furlong, led towards finish, kept on
slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, headed towards finish
led over 1f, prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent, not clear run briefly and lost place just over 3f out, no impression on leaders after
pressed leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, raced keenly, headway 3f out, not clear run and switched left well over 1f out, no impression on front pair when switched right inside final furlong
With Total Impact down to run at Wolverhampton on Thursday this looks best left to STONECRABSTOMORROW, with Flash McGahon best of the rest. Richard Fahey's likeable seven-year-old is reliable in this sphere and won well enough here last time. That run was the gelding's second try here, which now gives him a first and a second, so the surface is no problem and he comes out best on the figures. Total Impact's run on Thursday must be taken into account, but at the time of writing he rates the clear danger to our pick. The one concern is that this one is undoubtedly better over five furlongs and with the surface riding slow at Southwell he might struggle to get home. With the last-mentioned formerly trained by Richard Fahey, it'll be interesting to see what the market makes of the likely dominators. Flash McGahon ran reasonably in a much better race on his first try here so must be given a chance if building on it, although he's a few pounds to find with the two named previously, as has Mocha Java whose course form looks strong. Matthew Salaman's gelding has won over further and might play a part in the finish if they go off too fast in front which, with a few front runners lining up, looks entirely possible. Kings Ace is the only other to make a modicum of appeal in receipt of weight and, as his sole success came over course and distance, he might attract each-way support. Owed looks past his best at eight, Favouring has been in poor form of late and Conjecture doesn't look up to his official mark. This isn't a bad claimer and three of them stand out from the rest, with Stonecrabstomorrow readily preferred.
Flash McGahon (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Soon behind, 9th of 14, 8l behind Nickel Silver (9-3) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.
Owed 33-1 (9-2) Held up, ridden 3f out, always towards rear, 8th of 10, 10l behind Swinbrook (9-0) at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs in Jul.
Total Impact 2-1fav (8-9) Always prominent, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Southwell 5f clm stks (6) fbs in Dec beating Grudge (8-8) by 1l, 9 ran.
Stonecrabstomorrow (IRE) 15-8 (8-2) Pressed leader, led inside final 2f, driven and held on under pressure final furlong, won at Southwell 6f clm stks (6) fbs beating Mango Music (8-10) by nk, 4 ran.
Conjecture 15-2 (9-5) Chased leaders to half way, outpaced when lost action 2f out, soon eased, last of 15, 20l behind Averoo (9-3) at Redcar 6f hcp 0-55 (6) gf in Aug.
Mocha Java 5-1 (8-12) Always prominent, led well over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-60 (6) fbs beating Artesium (8-1) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Favouring (IRE) 125-1 (8-0) Chased leaders, ridden 4f out, soon weakened, last of 8, 26l behind Transmission (8-13) at Southwell 1m clm stks (6) fbs.
Kings Ace (IRE) 6-1 (8-10) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 11, 21l behind Ghufa (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol in Dec.
