in rear and in touch, went 3rd over 4f out, ridden to chase winner over 1f out, kept on and no impression
held up in touch, pushed along over 2f out, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, soon went 2nd, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well
tracked leader early, ridden 5f out, soon weakened
led, headed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened
The fact that Licence To Till reappears in a Fibresand claimer after nearly a year off suggests that this formerly useful handicapper has been beset with problems. At his best he'd take this with ease but on this occasion the market may prove the best guide to his chance and he is reluctantly passed over at this stage. Back Burner is only 1-13 on artificial surfaces whilst LEAN ON PETE has two laudable recent efforts to his name around this venue that augur well for his chance now. He may represent a value option against the prolific Stand Guard, who will certainly find this significantly tougher than the majority of his recent all-weather strolls - providing all five declared runners stand their ground of course.
Stand Guard 1-7fav (9-5) Made all, shaken up over 1f out, soon in command, unchallenged, won at Southwell 1m 4f sell stks (6) fbs in Mar beating Honest Strike (8-13) by 14l, 2 ran.
Lean On Pete (IRE) 5-4 (9-2) Raced wide close up in rear, headway to chase winner entering final 3f, 2 lengths down but looked to be going well over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Jacobs Son (9-2) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Back Burner (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Raced wide, keen headway to track leader 7f out, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Cai Shen (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (5) pol.
Crooked Arrow (IRE) 25-1 (9-9) Led, headed 5f out, outpaced 3f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 6, 18l behind Maahir (8-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Licence To Till (USA) 8-1 (8-10) Led, headed 7f out, prominent, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 12, 8l behind Boonga Roogeta (8-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in May.