tracked leaders, headway before 2 out, led narrowly last, headed flat, kept on and held towards finish
held up towards rear, headway to go 4th before 4 out, weakened before last
led, headed before and jumped left 3rd, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, led 2 out, headed narrowly last, soon ridden and regained lead, kept on towards finish
close up, led 3rd, headed 5th, every chance 3 out, weakened from last
held up behind, weakend before 3 out, pulled up soon after
held up mid-division, took closer order 4th, led 5th, headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear and keen, headway before and blundered 2 out, one pace from last
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
South Stack is proven at this level and is a course and distance winner on soft ground. With the weights compacted, he has to have every chance of adding to his tally though it's significant that Charles Greene has been in the saddle for all three wins so far. Thunderstorm is on a hat-trick after wins at Plumpton and Leicester and may still be on a decent mark while Crystal Swing will be staying on when others have cried enough, though is very one-paced. ALWAYSTHEOPTIMIST had winning form on heavy ground in Ireland and has been lightly-raced since arriving at Phil Middleton's yard. He's dropped to a very fair mark and gets a tentative vote in this with Kielan Woods taking off 3lb as Party Rock ran a shocker at Warwick earlier this month.
South Stack 6-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner 2 out until last, one pace, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Loose Chips (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov.
Alwaystheoptimist 7-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, no impression next, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 22l behind Extremely So (10-4) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft.
Party Rock (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden and weakened before next, 11th of 15, 39l behind Flaming Charmer (11-4) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Thunderstorm (IRE) 10-11fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft beating Crazy Bold (10-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Lost In Newyork (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, jumped right 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 14l behind Whispering Gallery (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft.
Secret World (IRE) 100-1 (11-11) Mid-division, weakened approaching 4th, pulled up after, in a race won by Flaming Charmer (11-4) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft, 15 ran.
Crystal Swing 11-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 5th when blundered 2 out, no chance with leaders when taking 4th last, 4th of 11, 21l behind Renoyr (11-1) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Marleno (GER) 11-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, pushed along 8th, never on terms, 6th of 7, 19l behind George Nympton (11-7) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Ruby Crown 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden and losing pace when hampered 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 9, 12l behind Thunderstorm (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
