restless in stalls, rearing as they opened and slowly away, in rear, pushed along and outpaced halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon switched left, switched right inside final furlong, kept on into 3rd close home, nearest finish
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, lost 3rd towards finish
held up in last pair, pushed along halfway, headway on outside over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened soon after
led on rail, headed and bumped well over 1f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened and eased inside final furlong
chased leaders, ridden and went 2nd over 1f out, no chance with easy winner
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
With the exception of likely outsider Honcho, these are all rated within 2lb of each other. January's Southwell winner Bacall was tailed off on his only try on Turf, however, while it took Brazen Spirit nine attempts to get off the mark on the Polytrack in November. Explain is blinkered after disappointing on Turf at Lingfield but Brighton runner-up Free Entry is a consistent performer at this level and makes more appeal than the maiden Henley. You're My Cracker could figure if fully wound-up but FINGAL'S CAVE has been running better than his form figures suggest since winning at Leicester in September and gets a tentative vote.
Bacall 9-1 (8-8) Held up towards rear, headway on inside over 2f out, led and hung right from over 1f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, won at Southwell 6f mdn fll (5) fbs in Jan beating Seychelloise (8-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Brazen Spirit 15-8fav (9-5) Chased leading pair on inside, shaken up over 2f out, ridden and went 2nd well over 1f out, led under pressure and hung left inside final furlong, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Kempton 6f 2yo mdn stks (4) pol in Nov beating Ershaad (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Explain 5-1 (9-5) Chased leaders in centre, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 9l behind Mullionheir (9-0) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd in May.
Fingal's Cave (IRE) 10-1 (8-5) Led, joined 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 7l behind Amazour (9-5) at Haydock 7f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in May.
Henley 11-4 (9-5) With winner, driven 2f out, soon lost place and ridden, kept on same pace, no chance with winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Fast Dancer (9-5) at Windsor 5f mdn stks (5) gf in May.
You're My Cracker 7-1 (8-13) Raced wide in touch, ridden when weakened over 1f out, 8th of 9, 16l behind Captain Colby (9-3) at Chester 5f 2yo hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Sep.
Free Entry (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Led for 1f, chased leaders, went to near side in straight, ridden to lead again and hung left over 1f out, headed and not quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Jimmy's Hall (9-1) at Brighton 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in May.
Honcho (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 8l behind Mustaqbal (9-4) at Musselburgh 7f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) gf in May.
