led, headed 4f out, soon ridden, weakened well over 2f out
held up in rear, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged left, headed inside final furlong, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden and headway 3f out, switched left approaching final furlong, stayed on well inside final furlong
tracked leader, led 4f out, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakening when not much room final furlong
held up on outer, headway 4f out, soon chasing leader, every chance 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
tracked leaders and keen, ridden and lost place 4f out
tracked leaders, headway on inner 3f out, ridden to challenge over 1f out, edged right and led inside final furlong, all out
John Egan's problems away from the track have done nothing to diminish his zest for race-riding and the Irishman's strength in the saddle will be a big plus for Polish Power today; Heathyards Pride and Pass The Port can fight it out as the best of the rest. Pass The Port was no match for the selection when they met at Lingfield in December, but has a chance of reversing the form on the revised terms - he is one to be wary of in the betting market. Heathyards Pride has been a good servant to veteran trainer Reg Hollinshead, as the seven-year-old is a real trier and has a likeable attitude. However, he will have to post a career best effort to score from his current mark and he looks up against the wall here. Betting with sentiment would also be dangerous with Red Wine - formerly useful under both codes for Jamie Osbourne. The gelding has not seen a racecourse since April 2004 and it will be some training feat by Alan McCabe if the gelding carries top weight to victory after such a long absence. Therefore, with all things considered, the reuniting of Egan with Polish Power makes for a formidable team and they are fancied to tough it out to the line.
Red Wine 14-1 (9-8) Mid-division, hard ridden and no impression leaders final 2f, 7th of 18, 16l behind Anak Pekan (8-4) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-100 (C) gs in Apr '04.
Heathyards Pride 7-2 (9-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase over 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Tranquilizer (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Polish Power (GER) 12-1 (8-13) Prominent, ridden to lead 3f out, headed well over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong and lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Eva Soneva So Fast (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Jackie Kiely 3-1 (9-13) Held up in touch, headway over 3f out, led over 1f out, headed last stride, 2nd of 6, shd behind Alagon (8-8) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Pass The Port 6-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Melpomene (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Kylkenny 33-1 (8-4) Held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 10, 13l behind Eva Soneva So Fast (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Dundry 9-2 (9-12) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 6th of 14, 15l behind At The Money (8-10) at Warwick 1m 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.
