tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden and stayed on gamely to lead post
held up in rear, pulled hard, good headway to lead over 4f out, ridden 1f out, caught post
led, headed over 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, kept on final furlong
tracked leader, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
Nonrunner
PLUSH is in good form and he is narrowly preferred to Ilie Nastase and Alwaahir in a good quality claimer. Tom Dascombe's Medicean gelding is a regular here and he has now won six of is last ten starts over this course and distance. He showed a willing attitude to fend off Head First here last time out and at today's weights he has a good chance. The best-treated is Ilie Nastase who was behind the selection last time out but has a 9lb pull in the weights. Therefore he has a great chance of revenge but he was too keen out in front last time and Paul Hanagan will need to get him to settle if he is to oblige. Alqaahir is a course winner but his best efforts have arguably come at Kempton. He was a winner there last time out so comes here in good nick and he has a good record in this grade. United Nations has been given a break since disappointing at Southwell in December. The return to this track may help but his profile is not the most appealing. Lingfield specialist Atacama Sunrise gets a nice bit of weight from the main principles, however we will stick with Plush given his tremendous record here.
Ilie Nastase (FR) 9-4fav (9-5) Led, ridden over 1f out, edged left final furlong, headed well inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Plush (8-10) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol.
Plush 5-2 (8-10) Steadied start, held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden and hung left final furlong, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, eased close home, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f clm stks (6) pol beating Head First (8-6) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
United Nations 3-1 (9-2) Prominent, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 26l behind Ten Pole Tudor (9-7) at Southwell 1m sell stks (6) fbs in Dec.
Atacama Sunrise 5-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, led on inside over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish, 4th of 13, 3/4l behind Vinces (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.
Holden Eagle 11-4 (9-7) Tracked leaders, led 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 8l behind Count Of Tuscany (9-3) at Kempton 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Alqaahir (USA) 13-2 (8-7) Held up, in touch, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Kempton 1m clm stks (6) pol beating Having A Ball (8-12) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
