disputed lead, led 5th, mistake and unseated rider 10th
held up in touch, left in close 2nd 10th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and outpaced by winner home turn, plugged on one pace, faded before last
chased leaders, pushed along before 5 out, steadily lost ground, stayed on from 2 out to take distant 2nd after last
disputed lead, tracked leader 5th, left in narrow lead 10th, shaken up and drew clear home turn, soon well in command, easily
Sojourn has a first preference in the 2.25 at Ascot today and Ask Me Early is also engaged in the same race. But EL PASO WOOD is preferred regardless having won here before beaten less than length over course and distance and is taken to go one better in his current form. I See You Well also has a shout on last month’s second at Fontwell while Ede'iffs Elton is at his best here but is upped in class for this.
Ask Me Early (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Raced prominently, led 3 out, extended advantage 2 out travelling powerfully, clear before last, eased down closing stages, easily, only finisher, won at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Dec.
El Paso Wood (FR) 11-8fav (10-13) Held up in touch, headway to go prominent 14th, led going well 16th, pushed along 2 out, ridden after last, headed final 50yds, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Rapper (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
I See You Well (FR) 10-3 (11-5) Chased front pair, dropped to last 8th, headway to track leaders 12th, hit 14th, pressed leader 16th, ridden in 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, kept on, headed closing stages, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Checkitout (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Ede'iffs Elton 10-3 (10-11) Chased leader until 4th, remained handy, bad mistake 8th (water), pushed along before 4 out, ridden before next, left modest 3rd 3 out, weakened between last two, 4th of 9, 28l behind Win My Wings (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Sojourn (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Off the pace in 3rd, went 2nd at 12th, pushed along in 3rd before 2 out where went badly left and bumped, weakened quickly and pulled up before last, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.