slowly into stride, held up and behind, ridden in 4th and hung left 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
always last, tailed off and eased final 3f
tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, stayed on
pushed along early, held up off the pace in 4th, closer on outside over 5f out, ridden 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on again into 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with 1st 2
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
chased leading pair, pushed along and outpaced 3f out, weakened inside final furlong
NonRunner
EPITAPH only landed a claimer over today’s trip at Wolverhampton last time but this doesn’t look much tougher and Mick Appleby’s charge has won over course and distance in the past. Love Rat remains unpredictable having won here before finishing seven lengths behind the winner when second on his latest start while Mearing returns to action 6lb higher than when scoring at Chester in September. High Command has won here before but that was back in 2016 and he failed to figure on his latest visit.
Mearing 8-1 (10-12) Slowly away towards rear, headway 3f out, chased leader when hung left over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 18, 4 3/4l behind Tralee Hills (11-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp (5) gs in Oct.
Shades of Silver 66-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, in touch, jumped slowly 3rd, dropped to last next, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Newbury 2m 5f (3) sft in Dec.
Argus (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Held up behind, outpaced 3f out, never involved, last of 7, 7 3/4l behind Military Law (10-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Epitaph (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Jan beating Dream Magic (8-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Harbour Quay 12-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, kept on, no chance with easy winner, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Plait (9-4) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Love Rat 5-1 (8-9) Chased winner, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and hung left over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Azari (9-8) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
High Command (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear and keen, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous, 7th of 9, 5 1/2l behind Temur Khan (9-5) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Jan.