held up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, headway over 2f out, hung left under pressure 1f out, kept on
in touch, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on
in touch, ridden 4f out and weakened
towards rear, keeping on when hampered and carried left over 1f out
slowly into stride, virtually refused to race, behind 5f out
in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, weakening when hampered soon after
chased leader, led briefly over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out and weakened
slowly into stride, good headway 3f out, led inside final furlong and edged left
tracked leaders, weakened 3f out
Norwegian has been in the form of his life of late and switched winning sand form to turf when successful at Folkestone recently but he is taken to continue winning ways back on the all-weather today getting the vote ahead of Gizmondo and Buscador. The last mentioned has been running well without winning and again looks to have solid place claims but Mark Brisbourne's gelding may have to settle for a minor role once more. Stablemate Desert Hawk ran better here last time and has to be considered along with Willie Musson's Medieval Maiden, particularly if the market speaks in her favour. Orpen Quest would need to show better form than in recent starts and of more interest is Michael Bell's lightly raced Gizmondo. Norwegian has done little wrong of late though and he gets the vote.
Rio (IRE) 9-2 (9-13) Mid-division, ridden to go 7th over 3f out, soon no impression and weakened, 15th of 16, 26l behind All Diamonds (10-0) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f hcp 0-70 gs in May.
Gizmondo 9-2jt-fav (8-0) Held up, keen, ridden over 3f out, not trouble leaders, 6th of 8, 14l behind Custodian (9-4) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gf in Aug.
Norwegian 5-1 (8-8) Keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden to lead on inside final 100 yards, ran on, won at Folkestone 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) gf beating Near Germany (9-0) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Anything Once (USA) 25-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, 9th and ridden entering straight, soon weakened, last of 26, 24l behind Ballette (10-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp 0-70 gf in Aug.
Medieval Maiden 17-2 (8-12) Held up in mid-division, driven along 3f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Penang Cinta (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Feb.
Buscador (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Carlton Scroop (9-0) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
Orpen Quest (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Led, ridden 2f out, headed over 1f out, faded, 5th of 17, 8l behind Apex (8-4) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-60 (6) gf.
Desert Hawk 12-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on well, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Mon Petite Amour (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Mar.
