steadied start, held up and behind, headway over 3f out, soon pushed along, ridden over 2f out, switched right well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged left, ran on well
raced keenly, led, headed over 4f out, weakened well over 3f out, tailed off
tracked leader, raced keenly, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
in touch, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace
held up, headway over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 6f out, weakened quickly over 5f out, tailed off
slowly into stride, held up and behind, pushed along over 4f out, soon weakened
Birkside is consistent so whilst he tries this extended trip for the first time, it could still pay to stick with Declan Carroll's charge and he is given the vote ahead of Tartan Tie and Jack Rolfe. The selection has a cracking strike-rate and comes here on the back of a cosy success at the track. His rider has enjoyed success on him before and whilst he needs to improve once again to defy this new mark, there is every chance that he will. Osolomio is another course winner and formerly with Alan Swinbank, he is sure to be staying on at the finish, whilst Jack Rolfe has been running well over hurdles of late and is sure to give a good show having already proven himself on the all-weather. Abounding is improving but has a hard task from just out of the weights, whilst Tartan Tie returns to the racetrack and this unexposed son of Grand Lodge could easily be a major player off this mark. An open contest here, in which narrow preference is for Birkside.
Birkside 7-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, good headway on inside 2f out, driven to lead over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Pass The Port (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Osolomio (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Dzesmin (9-3) at Catterick 1m 4f hcap (3) gd in Sept.
Tartan Tie 14-1 (8-7) Made all, ridden over 2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Redcar 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd in May beating Murbek (8-10) by 5l, 11 ran.
Jack Rolfe 3-1fav (9-5) Mid-division, headway 4f out, led 3f out, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Muhannak (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f app hcp (4) pol in Oct.
Noble Minstrel 7-1 (8-10) Prominent, hard ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 9, 6l behind Birkside (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Bronze Dancer (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Led for 3f, chased winner, ridden over 2f out, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Mister Fizzbomb (8-12) at Catterick 1m 4f app clm (6) gd in Oct.
Abounding 12-1 (8-9) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 4f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Dec beating The King And I (8-12) by a nk, 4 ran.
