in touch in rear, ridden 4f out, struggling from over 2f out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 2f out, driven to challenge between horses inside final furlong, led close home
raced wide close up, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven and headed close home
tracked leaders, pushed along over 5f out, ridden when weakened 2f out
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch, headway 2f out, effort on inner when not much room over 1f out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Royal Alcor has struggled in better company since scoring over 1m4f here in January while Quixote hasn't figured since runner-up at York in June, though he's slipped 6lb down the weights as a consequence. The Blue Dog and Doldrums have a bit to prove in this higher grade but both Mica Mika and Luv U Whatever look likely to appreciate the step up in distance. So does SAGESSE, who ran well at over 1m4f Lingfield last time despite only finishing fifth. Lightly-raced, she fits the profile of her yard's progressive middle-distance types so Sir Mark Prescott's filly gets the vote.
Quixote 12-1 (9-8) Led to post, tracked leading pair, pushed along 3f out, no impression when lost 3rd and weakened 2f out, tailed off, last of 5, 30l behind Montefeltro (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Sep.
Royal Alcor (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Prominent, led over 6f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly, last of 8, 27l behind Grendisar (8-13) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb.
Mica Mika (IRE) 14-1 (8-13) Keen tracked leader, led over 3f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 6, 17l behind Gogeo (8-12) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Feb.
Luv U Whatever 11-2 (9-3) Chased leader until pushed along over 2f out, chased leaders, ridden and edged left over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Tatting (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Feb.
Sagesse 6-1 (8-11) Held up, pushed along 4f out, headway 2f out, kept on final furlong, not trouble leaders, 5th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Scottish Star (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
The Blue Dog (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 8, 6l behind A Little Bit Dusty (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Doldrums (USA) 11-8fav (9-4) Led, hard driven over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 6l behind Lineman (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.