prominent, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
soon prominent, led over 5f out, hard ridden over 1f out, stayed on well
pulled hard, soon in mid-division, headway over 1f out, kept on
dwelt, held up, never on terms
dwelt, behind and pushed along, never dangerous
awkward start, chased leaders over 4f, soon one pace
held up, never dangerous
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, soon one pace
held up, never dangerous
held up, ridden halfway, headway over 2f out, never on terms
held up in touch, under pressure halfway, soon lost place
led until over 5f out, chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened well over 2f out
Shaftesbury Avenue could be of interest on his handicap debut but looks to have plenty of weight for what he has achieved and preference is for Doctor's Cave, who is taken to confirm running with Cleveland from two weeks ago. The selection has shown progressive form of late, staying on well having been headed to beat Doctor's Cave last time and he has every chance of repeating that success meeting the same rival on just a 1lb worse terms today. Modern Verse does not appear to be that well treated for his debut in a handicap, while Alsadaa is strictly held by the selection on running here last time. Lii Najma is hard to recommend on recent evidence and of more interest may be Penel who has been running consistently well of late. Doctor's Cave has solid claims on the form of his run last time though and is taken to follow up here.
Lii Najma 16-1 (8-10) Chased leaders stands side, weakened 2f out, 16th of 17, 28l behind Braddock (9-0) at Newcastle 7f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
Doctor's Cave 7-1 (8-13) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong to regain lead close home, won at Southwell 7f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating Cleveland (8-13) by a nk, 13 ran.
Cleveland 11-2 (8-13) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 13, nk behind Doctor's Cave (8-13) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs.
Shaftesbury Avenue (USA) 9-2 (9-13) Raced wide in touch, led 3f out, ridden and carried head high, driven out, won at Southwell 7f 3yo & 4yo mdn (5) fbs in Mar beating Paymaster General (8-12) by 1l, 13 ran.
Modern Verse (USA) 2-1 (9-12) Towards rear, ridden and outpaced over 4f out, kept on from over 1f out, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Patavian (8-9) at Hamilton 1m 3f mdn aut stk (6) gf.
Scuba (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Pushed along mid-division, never dangerous, 14th of 16, 19l behind Brunelleschi (9-2) at Nottingham 6f app hcp (6) gd.
Wainwright (IRE) 6-1jt-fav (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden along halfway, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Union Jack Jackson (9-3) at Southwell 6f hcp (6) fbs.
Penel (IRE) 15-2 (8-7) Towards rear stands side, pushed along over 3f out, headway under pressure 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Blue Sky Thinking (9-7) at Newcastle 1m clm (6) gs.
