steadied start held up in rear, headway on outer over 2f out, joined leader on bit entering final furlong, nudged along to lead narrowly near finish
tracked leaders, led 2f out, ridden and joined entering final furlong, headed narrowly near finish
keen tracked leader until 7f out, tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace final furlong
in touch, headway to press leader 7f out, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen close up, lost place over 6f out, soon in rear, weakened over 2f out
led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Matraash bids for a hat-trick having won a couple of plating races at Lingfield. But he's facing higher-rated opposition today including A LITTLE BIT DUSTY. The latter beat better horses than this when landing a claimer over track and trip last season and, fit from hurdling, gets the nod. Bute Hall has a chance on today's terms, but both the latter and Ballyheigue will need to be at their best having their first starts of the year. The remainder arrive out of form and look up against it at the weights anyway.
Matraash (USA) 10-11fav (9-11) In touch, took closer order before halfway, soon tracking leaders, led on bit entering final furlong, soon clear, very easy, won at Lingfield 1m 2f sell stks (6) pol in Jul beating Tartan Trip (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
A Little Bit Dusty 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, lost place well over 3f out, 7th of 8, 23l behind Alakhan (9-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol in Oct.
Ballyheigue (IRE) 6-1 (9-3) Prominent, ridden 2f out, no extra when not much room inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Spartan Spirit (9-2) at Kempton 1m 3f clm stks (6) pol in Oct '12.
Epic Storm (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Pulled hard, held up in rear, headway on outside over 3f out, ridden and went 2nd over 2f out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd approaching final furlong, no extra in 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 10l behind High On A Hill (9-8) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp (0-65) (6) pol.
Alsaqi (IRE) 100-1 (9-5) Always in rear, 9th of 10, 20l behind Air Of Glory (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Jun.
Song Of The Siren 16-1 (9-11) Led 1f, tracked leader until ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace final 2f, 4th of 7, 11l behind Lacey (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (0-65) (6) pol.
Bute Hall 6-5fav (9-0) Tracked leader, led over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, pressed inside final furlong, driven out and held on towards finish, won at Catterick 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug '12 beating Raleigh Quay (8-13) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
