led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, hung right flat
always prominent, hit 4th, led and hung right after 3 out, not fluent and headed 2 out, stayed on flat, still inclined to hang right, always held
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th or 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up and behind, headway when hit 3 out, soon driven along, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader to 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up, reminders after 5th, mistake 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
held up in rear, headway 7th, led 2 out, kept on well under pressure flat
Rodrigo Gonzales sets a decent standard here but Mark Keighley's gelding faces no easy task having to give weight away all round and preference is for Bertie May, who gets the vote with Superior Wisdom rated the pick of the remainder. The selection showed decent form in bumpers and made a pleasing debut over hurdles when a decent winner at Exeter last month, running on well despite being pestered by a loose horse and he is taken to win again. Auroras Encore was highly tried last time and has to be considered on earlier form on ground that should suit, while French import Plein Pouvoir is open to improvement and does represent the in-form yard of Venetia Williams. Alan King's Shipmaster has yet to translate his flat form to hurdles and of more interest may be Superior Wisdom, who looks to be going the right way. Bertie May has solid claims though and he is preferred.
Rodrigo Gonzales (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Prominent, led 4th until 7th, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, rallied to lead approaching last, stayed on gamely, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Prince De Bersy (11-9) by 2l, 12 ran.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 1st, steadied, lost place from 2nd, ridden after 8th, tried to close, hung right soon after, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, 40l behind Battlecry (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan.
Bertie May 11-4 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, led 3 out, hung left, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Regal Approach (11-5) by 4l, 14 ran.
King In Waiting (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway 3 out, kept on from next, never troubled leaders, 6th of 18, 13l behind Blue Bajan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, every chance 3 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Cryptic (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Shipmaster 7-1 (10-12) Prominent on inside, effort 3 out, 4th when hit next, ridden and kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 7l behind Blue Bajan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Smiling Applause 16-1 (10-8) Held up, effort and headway 8th, chased clear winner 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 11, 17l behind Roaringwater (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 7f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Oct.
Superior Wisdom (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) In touch, close up 2 out, soon led, clear last, ran on, won at Folkestone 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Starburst Diamond (11-5) by 10l, 14 ran.
