steadied start, keen in touch in rear, headway over 1f out, soon chased leader, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, stayed on to lead final strides
close up, ridden and wide into straight 2f out, kept on same pace
led, headed over 6f out, tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, kept on same pace
keen, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, headed final strides
MOUNT TAHAN (NAP) has been raised only 3lb for winning a tougher handicap over course and distance on Boxing Day. Kevin Ryan’s charge can go in again as that looks stronger form than Maratha’s win here last month. The latter is upped in class off a 5lb higher mark while both Fayez and Perfect Cracker ran poorly in the same race here earlier though the former has since finished a lot closer at Lingfield. Forceful Appeal has to race off a higher mark on the all-weather and has struggled so far this winter.
Mount Tahan (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (2) pol in Dec beating Born To Be Alive (9-8) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Fayez (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Close up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, no extra towards finish, 6th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Easy Tiger (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (3) pol in Jan.
Forceful Appeal (USA) 20-1 (9-7) Always in rear, last of 13, 6 3/4l behind Shyron (8-10) at Lingfield 7f hcp (3) pol in Dec.
Perfect Cracker 33-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never a threat, 11th of 13, 7 1/2l behind Swift Emperor (9-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Maratha (IRE) 9-4fav (9-1) Tracked leading pair, switched right and squeezed through entering final 2f, quickened to soon lead, ridden and ran on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (4) pol in Dec beating Perfect Soldier (9-1) by 2l, 7 ran.