tracked leading pair, pushed along 8f out and again over 4f out, driven over 3f out, stayed on to 2nd approaching fuinal furlong, no chance with winner
tracked leader, reminders over 5f out, lost 2nd 4f out, weakened over 3f out, tailed off and eased well over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in last pair, reminder 7f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to 3rd final 100 yards and closed on 2nd, no chance with winner
started slowly and soon pushed along in rear, reminders 10f out, never on terms, tailed off
led, ridden and headed well over 2f out, soon no chance with winner, hung left over 1f out, soon lost 2nd, weakened to 4th final 100 yards
tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd 4f out, led well over 2f out, soon clear, easily
Scribe messed up an easier chance in a claiming race here last week when returning a losing favourite though he'd finished well ahead of another frustrating type in Montjess over track and trip before that. Echua drops back in distance after going close over 2m at Lingfield on Friday, the same day The Blue Dog won at this track. The latter was following up an earlier win at Lingfield where he defeated SUMMERFREE, and with that form working out well, Mark Johnston's charge gets the vote. Old Way and Iktiview have both been hurdling with the former returning to the Flat for the first time since 2009.
Scribe (IRE) 6-4fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed 1f out, soon edged left, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Bute Hall (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f clm stks (6) pol.
Montjess (IRE) 6-4fav (9-3) Dwelt tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 5, 8l behind Odin (9-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Old Way (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Loch Etive (9-2) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 2f stk gs in Sep '09.
Iktiview 12-1 (9-8) Slowly away towards rear, outpaced over 6f out, eased over 4f out, detached, last of 9, well behind Sherman McCoy (9-1) at Catterick 1m 4f clm stks (6) hvy in Oct.
Summerfree (USA) 5-4fav (8-11) Led, driven over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind The Blue Dog (8-6) at Lingfield 1m 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Echua (IRE) 3-1fav (9-10) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden to take 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on well towards finish, not reach front pair, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Keep Kicking (9-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-65 (6) pol.