chased leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, ridden out
pulled hard tracking leaders, effort over 2f out, kept on under pressure
tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on under pressure
always in rear
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, never on terms
led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
This looks pretty tight with a handful closely matched on recent form. Scottish Star got the better of One Scoop Or Two and Lean On Pete here last month and the latter also found Dakota Canyon too good over track and trip last time. Askaud will take advantage of her slide down the weights soon judged on her latest second at Kempton and Patriotic is not out of this off a 4lb higher mark having won here last month. CHOOKIE ROYALE ended last year in fine form with a couple of victories and finished third on his recent return to action. He gets the tentative vote to regain the winning thread with that run under his belt.
Chookie Royale 11-4fav (8-9) Towards rear, ridden halfway, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Docofthebay (8-10) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-95 (3) fbs in Feb.
Scottish Star 7-2fav (9-3) Chased leader, challenged 2f out, led just over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating One Scoop Or Two (8-8) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Patriotic (IRE) 4-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, quick move to lead over 5f out, ridden 2 lengths 2f out, driven out final furlong, just held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Feb beating Knowe Head (9-3) by shd, 9 ran.
Tevez 14-1 (9-7) Towards rear, last into straight, closed under pressure but no impression from over 1f out, kept on, 5th of 13, 6l behind Paene Magnus (9-8) at Dundalk 1m hcp 60-80 pol in Nov.
One Scoop Or Two 9-1 (8-8) Held up in mid-division, headway well over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd well inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Scottish Star (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Askaud (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Led 1f, tracked leader, ridden to lead again narrowly 1f out, soon hard pressed, headed final 50 yards, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Hilali (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Lean On Pete (IRE) 5-2fav (9-7) In touch, headway on inside over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, headed close home, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Dakota Canyon (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Dakota Canyon (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) In touch, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led post, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol beating Ishikawa (9-5) by shd, 9 ran.