towards rear stands side, headway when not clear run over 2f out, soon ridden and kept on one pace final furlong
chased leaders stands side, effort over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
slowly into stride, towards rear far side, pushed along halfway, ridden and kept on one pace final 2f
mid-division stands side, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division halfway, headway and effort 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
in touch stands side, headway and effort 2f out, weakened over 1f out
mid-division stands side, pushed along halfway, headway and effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride, mid-division stands side, headway and effort 2f out, stayed on to lead group well inside final furlong
chased leaders stands side, led group over 1f out until headed and no extra well inside final furlong
mid-division stands side, weakened halfway
led stands side group, headed over 1f out, weakened
chased leaders far side, effort 2f out, chance inside final furlong, kept on
slowly into stride, in touch far side, weakened over 2f out
towards stands side, never dangerous
towards rear stands side, never dangerous
towards rear far side, never dangerous
Conditions have come right again for Hiccups, who can take this ahead of Cd Europe, Lord Of The East and Lafi. Although he will have to produce a lifetime best to win from a mark of 81, Hiccups ran second over course and distance from that same mark last month, before running a stinker at Doncaster. On neither occasion did he get his desired fast ground, but with that now in place plus a good draw from stall 19 he can provide us with a bit of value against some shorter prices. Among those will be Cd Europe, who is set to give the selection 11lb after a six furlong Redcar success when last seen out in October. Proven on fast ground, he can go well but may just find the weight rise too much to handle. Lord Of The East may well go off favourite, and he also has conditions to his liking. Dandy Nicholls' charge cost himself a chance of victory when swerving badly at Hamilton last time and going down by just a quarter-of-a-length. He will be out for compensation here, though he has been raised 2lb for that effort and is stepping into unchartered territory as a result. Of the remainder Lafi makes some appeal but will find it difficult to drop back to this trip with so much weight to carry and he may have to wait a few turns before his next win, so we are content to stick with Hiccups.