pushed along to lead, ridden 2 lengths clear over 1f out, headed towards finish
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong
close up, pushed along over 3f out, wide and headway approaching final furlong, ridden and stayed on to lead towards finish
keen tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong
keen in rear, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders
GOVERNMENT beat Illuminated when winning over a mile at Southwell and makes his handicap debut. Pedigree suggests he’ll stay this far and Hugo Palmer’s grey looks worth sticking with. Aegis Power finished runner-up at Newmarket when last in action while Graffiti improved at Lingfield on last month’s handicap bow and makes more appeal than the more-exposed Young Winston and Thermometer.
Government (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Soon pushed along to lead, ridden clear 2f out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Illuminated (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Aegis Power 7-2 (8-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd halfway, ridden to join winner over 1f out, every chance until no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Wind Your Neck In (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 2f (2) sft in Oct.
Illuminated 13-2 (9-5) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Government (9-5) at Southwell 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Graffiti 10-1 (9-3) In rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, stayed on one pace, last of 5, 2 3/4l behind State Legend (9-7) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Young Winston 8-1 (8-7) Held up, ridden and outpaced at 3f, never a factor, 5th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Tropez Power (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f (4) pol in Nov.
Thermometer (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, raced keenly, ridden on outside over 2f out, edged left and went modest 4th over 1f out, no impression, 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Sid's Annie (9-3) at Southwell 1m hcp (5) pol in Feb.