raced wide, held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on to go 2nd near finish
raced wide, tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
outpaced over 5f out
tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened entering final 2f
dwelt, in touch, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace
close up, effort and every chance over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
soon pushed along in rear, outpaced over 5f out, progress 3f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on
in touch, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed 2f out, faded final furlong
ERSHAAD made late headway on his Fibresand debut last month and has been dropped 3lb since. He should be thereabouts with an extra furlong to cover in a very modest opener but it would be folly to rule out old-timer General Tufto, who is bidding for a 15th course success and has been showing signs of a revival lately – it is a plus that he is able to race off his correct mark today. Dancin Alpha would also have each-way claims along with the three-year-olds Capital Gearing and Rupert Boy but Claude Greenwood’s latest fourth came in a Class 7 event.
Dancin Alpha 10-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, led 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 5 1/4l behind Star of Spring (9-7) at Newcastle 1m hcp (6) pol in Dec.
Capital Gearing 17-2 (9-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression, 6th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Kenstone (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Sober Up 25-1 (8-3) Outpaced, never on terms, 8th of 12, 10 1/2l behind Vroom (8-7) at Southwell 6f stks (6) pol in Dec.
Ertidaad (IRE) 15-2 (9-4) Held up mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Win Lose Draw (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Nov.
Rupert Boy (IRE) 40-1 (9-5) Led, ridden, headed and edged left over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 9th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Dark Confidant (9-5) at Kempton 7f stks (6) pol in Oct.
Chesham Rose (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, lost touch 5th, ridden and tailed off before next, 7th of 10, dist behind Jazzy (10-12) at Stratford 2m (4) gd in Jul.
Ershaad (IRE) 10-1 (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Mr Potter (9-5) at Newcastle 7f stks (6) pol in Nov.
Claude Greenwood 16-1 (9-5) Soon pressing leader, led 3f out, headed entering final furlong, one pace, 4th of 14, 4 1/4l behind My Bubba (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp (7) pol in Nov.
General Tufto 50-1 (8-7) Outpaced, stayed on final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 12, 6l behind Anton Chigurh (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp (5) pol in Dec.
Blythe Prince 100-1 (9-6) Dwelt in rear, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 7, 26 1/4l behind Noble Star (9-5) at Newcastle 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Nov.
Ocotillo (IRE) 80-1 (8-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 8l behind Beautiful Stranger (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Dec.
Mrs Biggs 8-1 (8-12) Mid-division, under pressure over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 10 1/4l behind Custard The Dragon (9-7) at Southwell 7f hcp (6) pol in Dec.