held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, stayed on well
stumbled start, held up, headway on inside over 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
tracked leader, ridden and weakened well over 1f out
in touch on outside, weakened well over 1f out
tracked leader, pulled hard, effort over 1f out, faded final furlong
led, hard driven over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon rallied, led again inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
in touch, headway over 1f out, soon lost place
NonRunner
DARK ALLIANCE won a claimer over track and trip last month but had gone close in a handicap here before that when finishing ahead of Gabrial The Tiger. The latter has subsequently run well back at the track and can figure but Mark Loughnane’s charge should confirm earlier running and gets the nod. Blinkers are applied to Call Me Grumpy after a below-par effort at Chelmsford in November while Critical Thinking was due to run at last night’s meeting here.
Mr Minerals 11-4 (9-4) In touch, ridden and headway 2f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 11l behind Angel Palanas (9-0) at Southwell 7f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
Call Me Grumpy (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) With leader, ridden and every chance over 1f out until inside final furlong, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 6 3/4l behind Pinnata (9-1) at Chelmsford City 1m hcp (4) pol in Nov.
Highly Sprung (IRE) 50-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, 10th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Glenn Coco (9-1) at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Malaspina (ITY) 33-1 (8-13) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 7, 6 3/4l behind Custard The Dragon (9-3) at Newcastle 7f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Dark Alliance (IRE) 15-8 (9-4) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, went 2nd 2f out until inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 4th of 5, 1 1/2l behind Los Camachos (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f stks (5) pol in Jan.
Gabrial The Tiger (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 11, 1l behind The British Lion (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Showdance Kid 12-1 (9-7) Behind, some late headway, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Counter Spirit (9-5) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Aug.
Critical Thinking (IRE) 20-1 (8-7) Always behind, beaten over 2f out, last of 6, 15 1/2l behind Documenting (9-3) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (3) pol in Feb.