with leader, led 8f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, held on gamely
in rear and soon pushed along, headway over 5f out, outpaced over 3f out, no impression after
slowly away, headway 9f out, went 2nd over 4f out, driven 2f out, lost 2nd and stayed on same pace inside final furlong
struggling 9f out, tailed off final 5f
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 5f out until over 4f out, driven 2f out, went 2nd again and stayed on inside final furlong, not quite reach winner
ridden to lead, headed 8f out, weakened over 4f out
Michael Appleby runs three in this with LUV U WHATEVER making most appeal. The latter bids for a hat-trick of course wins having beaten stablemate The Lock Master on both previous occasions. Royal Marksell also finished well behind the selection on New Year's Day but had earlier got the better of Jacobs Son over track and trip while Astra Hall's long losing run looks set to continue off her current mark. Deep Resolve won a maiden race here last year and improved efforts over hurdles of late suggest he could figure.
Luv U Whatever 6-1 (8-9) Led 2f, chased leader, pushed along halfway, led again over 4f out, ridden 2f out, soon clear, kept on gamely, all out, won at Southwell 1m 4f hcap (2) fbs beating Gabrial's Star (8-13) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
The Lock Master (IRE) 10-1 (8-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden and outpaced 4f out, plugged on into modest 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 7l behind Luv U Whatever (8-9) at Southwell 1m 4f hcap (2) fbs.
Royal Marskell 7-2 (8-8) Dwelt, held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 8f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden and weakened over 3f out, rallied over 1f out, never on terms, 5th of 7, 12l behind Luv U Whatever (8-9) at Southwell 1m 3f hcp (0-90) (3) fbs.
Astra Hall 12-1 (9-5) Midfield, headway over 3f out, soon chasing leaders, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Full Moon Fever (8-5) at Bath 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Jacobs Son 5-2fav (9-6) Chased leaders, lost place over 6f out, rallied approaching final furlong, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Royal Marskell (8-13) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Dec.
Deep Resolve (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, 20l behind Gift Of Silence (10-7) at Doncaster 1m 2f am hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.