led 1f, prominent, led over 2f out, soon headed, no extra close home
held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, well beaten over 1f out
broke well, held up, headway over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on, just held
held up in touch, headway 3f out, led 2f out, held on
ridden leaving stalls, led after 1f, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
This is easily the best race on today's card but it's complicated by the fact that recent course and distance first and second, Lean On Pete and Follow The Flag, were due to renew hostilities here yesterday. One or the other would have a penalty to carry in this if successful. In the circumstances, we'll come down in favour of PRESBURG who is still relatively unexposed on the all-weather and probably just needed the run when second at Kempton earlier this month, though he's gone up a couple of pounds since. Strike Force looks as though he is starting to feel his age but Musnad is potentially well handicapped and makes more appeal than stablemate Calaf, though he's yet to reach the frame on an artificial surface. One Scoop Or Two is closely matched with Lean On Pete and Follow The Flag on the form book but was beaten a head when favourite here last week and is upped in grade now.
Presburg (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) In touch, headway on outside over 1f out, driven and went 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Purple 'n Gold (8-13) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Calaf 11-2 (8-11) Held up in rear, some headway on inside over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 9, 7l behind Desert Vision (9-4) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
Follow The Flag (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 3f out, headway when not clear run and switched right over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong to lead briefly near finish, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Lean On Pete (9-6) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
One Scoop Or Two 9-4fav (9-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden to lead inside final furlong, caught close home, 2nd of 9, hd behind Idol Deputy (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Strike Force 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 9, hd behind Idol Deputy (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Musnad (USA) 22-1 (8-10) In touch, lost place over 2f out, 7th of 11, 6l behind Mica Mika (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec.
Lean On Pete (IRE) 2-1fav (9-6) Held up in rear, driven and headway on outside over 1f out, soon ridden, ran on well inside final furlong to lead post, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol beating Follow The Flag (9-7) by shd, 9 ran.