started slowly, outpaced in rear, switched right over 4f out, switched left to inside over 1f out, ridden and stayed to to 4th inside final furlong, never dangerous
led over 1f, chased leader until 3f out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened over 1f out
reared badly start, ridden and rapid headway to lead over 5f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leader over 1f, went 2nd again 3f out, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, chased leader until well inside final furlong, kept on same pace
held up in last pair, headway between horses to 3rd and edged left over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd well inside final furlong, led post
awkward leaving stalls, held up in 5th, hampered on rails over 6f out, headway under pressure on outside over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
Showboating continues to run well without being good enough and still looks a shade high in the weights. Smalljohn has plenty to find with Haftohaf on collateral form and it's only a matter of time before the latter is scoring again following his latest close-up fourth at Kempton. FRONTIER FIGHTER needs to improve making his handicap debut but landed the odds by nearly four lengths here last month with a subsequent winner behind so David O'Meara's charge gets the nod. Lord of The Dance also won nicely over track and trip last week but this is tougher.
Showboating (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Dwelt, towards rear, ridden over 1f out and headway on outer, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 2l behind Seek The Fair Land (9-7) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Haftohaf 2-1fav (9-5) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden over 2f out, went 2nd 1f out, kept on towards finish, just held close home, 4th of 7, nk behind Toga Tiger (8-13) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan.
Smalljohn 14-1 (9-3) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 16l behind Atlantis Crossing (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Jan.
Beauty Pageant (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, hard driven over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 11l behind Waking Warrior (9-0) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Frontier Fighter 10-11fav (9-6) Raced keenly, made virtuallly all, pushed clear over 1f out, in command when edged left and reminder inside final furlong, unchallenged, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Jan beating Cape Crossing (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
The Guru Of Gloom (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Mid-division, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 6th of 9, 6l behind Balti's Sister (9-6) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Lord of The Dance (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Wolverhampton 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Jan beating Bussa (8-6) by 2l, 10 ran.