slowly into stride, outpaced in last pair, driven along 3f out, never on terms
chased leader, pushed along over 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and lost 2nd inside final furlong, no extra
soon led, ridden 2f out, soon headed and lost 2nd , ridden and weakened quickly soon after
off the pace in 6th, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
chased leaders pushed along over 1f out, weakened final furlong
well off the pace in last pair, pushed along halfway, headway on outside 2f out went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on to lead final strides (track record)
chased leaders on inside, led well over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, headed last strides
steadied start, raced keenly in rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders over 2f out, went never nearer 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading duo
raced wide, soon chasing leaders, weakened inside final 2f
Top weight Gurkha Friend is the only one not to have won on the track though he completed a Ripon double at this level last summer. Three Weeks has won here but not at the distance and hasn't run over a trip this short since his debut. Saint Equiano was making his all-weather debut when leading all the way over the track and trip on New Year's Day and a 4lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run. Custard The Dragon was only beaten half-a-length in that latter event and has subsequently won at Newcastle though this will be his 40th start and he's never run in Class 2 company. Robero completed a double here and at Wolverhampton in December though this is much tougher but Weld Al Emarat has taken a liking to the course having won two of his last three here, the latest from today's rival Angel Palanas. SPACE BANDIT dropped down to this trip for the first time here last month and stormed home by 5l for which he's been raised 8lb. He should just about have the legs of these with Mick Appleby's yard in good form.
Gurkha Friend 10-1 (9-0) Led, ridden over 2f out, edged right, hard pressed inside final furlong, rallied gamely when narrowly headed inside final 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 9, shd behind Alemaratalyoum (8-9) at Haydock 1m hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Three Weeks (USA) 5-2 (9-7) Led 1f, chased leader, pushed along to lead just over 1f out, headed and ridden inside final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Fearsome (9-4) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Saint Equiano 5-1 (9-7) Made all, clear well over 1f out, soon ridden, comfortably, won at Southwell 7f hcp (3) pol in Jan beating Custard The Dragon (9-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Custard The Dragon 25-1 (8-7) Mid-division, effort over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Keyser Soze (9-10) at Newcastle 7f hcp (2) pol in Feb.
Robero 6-1 (9-7) Keen close up, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Florencio (9-6) at Lingfield 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Weld Al Emarat 11-8fav (9-7) In touch, pushed along and headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Southwell 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan beating Angel Palanas (9-8) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Space Bandit 5-2fav (9-10) Prominent, led 3f out, edged right over 1f out, pushed clear inside final furlong, readily, won at Southwell 7f hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Esprit De Corps (9-10) by 5l, 8 ran.
Mister Music 7-4fav (9-4) Held up in 4th, effort over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, edged left and ran on, just held, 2nd of 5, hd behind Los Camachos (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Angel Palanas 7-2 (9-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 4f out until over 2f out, chased leaders, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 6l behind Zylan (9-11) at Southwell 6f hcp (4) pol in Feb.
