in rear, headway ridden and headway over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, soon went 2nd, not pace to challenge winner
in touch, headway 4f out, ridden 3f out, no impression from over 1f out
always in rear
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, ridden over 3f out, led 2f out, stayed on gamely
tracked leader until over 4f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out
pushed along to lead, set strong pace, clear 10f out, reduced lead 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on one pace
Follow The Flag returned to winning ways over 1m3f here last Saturday when catching ROYAL SWAIN close home. However, the latter re-opposes on better terms and given his two wins on the Flat have come over today's longer trip, Alan Swinbank's charge gets the nod to take his revenge. Mazij has won three times since October but has failed to figure in a couple of previous starts on this surface, while John Forbes will also need to step up on his previous efforts at this course if he's to figure.
Follow The Flag (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Held up, headway on inner over 1f out, ridden to to lead inside final furlong, edged right and stayed on, won at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs beating Royal Swain (9-10) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Royal Swain (IRE) 2-1fav (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Follow The Flag (9-6) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
John Forbes 10-1 (8-7) Held up towards rear and keen, headway over 3f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 9, 11l behind Taikoo (9-0) at Ayr 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Mazij 9-2 (9-4) Tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, held on under pressure, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Nov beating Boa (9-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Just Five (IRE) 66-1 (9-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 14, 18l behind William Haigh (9-0) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-70 (5) fbs in Nov.
Ay Tay Tate (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) Ridden along to lead, set strong pace, clear 8f out, ridden 3f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 7, 2l behind C P Joe (9-3) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) fbs.