Storm Hawk hasn't raced since 2012 having won this race in the same year. He's 4lb higher on his return while Carlanda had an easier chance over track and trip last time but came up short when sent off odds-on. Noguchi is at his best in plating races and duly won another such contest over 2m here last month. ARR' KID was successful over the same trip at this course in between a couple of modest efforts on the Polytrack and Keith Dalgleish's charge gets another chance back on this surface. Recent Wolverhampton winner Royal Alcor has the beating of Returntobrecongill on collateral form and has won at this venue before.
Lyric Street (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 10, 10l behind Azrag (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Royal Alcor (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Tracked leaders until lost place and dropped to rear over 5f out, headway on inside under pressure over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 5, 2 3/4l behind The Lock Master (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Recession Proof (FR) 18-1 (7-11) Mid-division, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 27th of 33, 40l behind Scatter Dice (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Storm Hawk (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Led briefly in early stages, prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 10th of 11, 50l behind Rockfella (8-12) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp 0-90 (3) sft in May '12.
Returntobrecongill 3-1 (8-4) Led after 2f, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind The Lock Master (8-5) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-105 (2) fbs in Feb.
Noguchi (IRE) 6-4fav (9-4) Raced wide in touch in rear, headway to track leaders 10f out, led on bit over 3f out, soon clear, heavily eased final furlong, won at Southwell 2m clm stks (6) fbs in Feb beating Hail Tiberius (8-8) by 4l, 7 ran.
Arr' Kid (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Villa Royale (9-11) at Wolverhampton 2m hcap (4) pol.
Carlanda (FR) 10-11fav (9-2) Awkwardly away close up in rear, went 3rd over 3f out, switched right over 1f out, soon pressed winner, no impression inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Kingscombe (9-7) at Southwell 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
