led to 3rd, ridden when not fluent 5th, soon outpaced, rallied from 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish
mid-division, behind from 4th, not fluent next
held up in rear, took keen hold, behind from 4th
chased leader, led 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, headed towards finish
held up in touch, took keen hold, jumped left and lost ground 2nd, behind 4th
held up, well behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always prominent, went 2nd 4th, challenged after next, ridden, flashed tail and hung left approaching 2 out, no extra last
held up, pulled hard, behind from 4th
Nonrunner
Not a strong contest and Norman The Great is taken to get Festival week off to a good start for Alan King, while Sharp Dresser, Light Yield and Western Point look like dangers. The selection may well be better for this sound surface, after running pretty well in defeat on his previous two starts, one of which was behind the very useful Binocular at Ascot. He has won on the polytrack and handled decent ground on the flat well, so he can score. Sharp Dresser is another has ability and she has not finished worse than second in four outings. She handles most ground and went well on her hurdling debut at Wetherby, so with improvement to come she could go close. Last time winner Western Point did so on soft, but Jim Culloty's gelding handles fast ground on the level so again he should not be inconvenienced and a 4lb penalty for that success will have to be overcome if he is to follow up. Light Yield was a good ground scorer at Fontwell in December but has struggled under a penalty since and may be a more likely proposition in handicaps, and preference today is for Norman The Great.
Light Yield (USA) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, effort 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 10l behind Songe (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Born West (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent until not fluent 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 21l behind Arctic Wings (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Dar Es Salaam 33-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 5th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Serabad (11-4) at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Fredo (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Always prominent, ridden and every chance last, kept on one pace flat, 3rd of 16, 3l behind Metaphoric (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Lagavulin (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division until weakened 2f out, 12th of 13, 14l behind Cockney Trucker (11-2) at Sandown 2m nhf (5) gd in Feb.
Lay The Cash (USA) 16-1 (9-2) Always behind, 11th of 14, 12l behind Lordswood (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan (Flat).
Norman The Great 9-4 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, soon chasing leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Songe (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Etoile d'Or (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Led after 1st, pulled hard, soon clear, mistake 5th, headed 3 out, soon faded, 5th of 9, 37l behind Shavansky (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gf.
Western Point (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Made all, clear from 3rd, reduced advantage before 3 out, ridden along straight, strongly pressed before last, stayed on strongly, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl sft in Feb beating Sebadee (11-2) by 7l, 20 ran.
Proper (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Broke well, steadied into mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden to lead briefly inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Wadnagin (8-11) at W'hampton 7f 3yo hcp (6) pol in Oct (Flat).
Right Option (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Took keen hold, chased leader over 2f out, led briefly over 1f out, soon headed, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Trachonitis (9-12) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb (Flat).
Kanonkop 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, struggling 5th, headway from 3 out, kept on, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Arctic Wings (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Sharp Dresser (USA) 8-11fav (10-10) Chased leaders, chased winner approaching 3 out, ridden and hit 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 10, 5l behind How's Business (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4yo fll hdl (5) gs in Feb.
