in rear, ridden 3f out, no impression
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, hung left and one pace from over 1f out
tracked leader and keen, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, led over 1f out, ridden out
led, headed over 1f out, one pace
towards rear, ridden and no impression from over 2f out
held up in touch, ridden 4f out, weakened over 3f out
Morbick has been in fine form of late, lost little in defeat behind Princess Cocoa over course and distance last time and Mark Brisbourne's gelding is taken to resume winning ways, getting the vote over Kingsholm and Steig. The last mentioned failed to take to hurdles but Carl Llewellyn's gelding has been running consistently well and has to be respected. Richard Fahey's Dancing Lyra reverts to the flat after a spell hurdling but makes less appeal, while Punta Galera has slipped to a fair mark but may have to settle for minor honours. Kingsholm has run well in his last two starts and has to be respected but it is hard to get away from Morbick, who gets the vote.
Dancing Lyra 16-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 13, 6l behind Night Hour (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gd in Oct.
Shogun Prince (IRE) 9-2 (9-6) Mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 8l behind Casual Affair (8-9) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Kingsholm 6-4fav (9-0) Held up, came wide straight, headway after, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Pop Music (8-6) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Morbick 5-4fav (8-8) Always prominent, challenged over 2f out, every chance when hung left well over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Princess Cocoa (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (4) pol.
Steig (IRE) 5-4fav (8-7) Soon led and keen, clear 6f out, ridden over 2f out, soon headed and one pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 1 1/2l behind Justcallmehandsome (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (5) pol.
Punta Galera (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) Held up in rear, ridden 3f out, came wide entering straight, headway over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, ran on, 4th of 13, 1l behind Schelm (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol.
Hatch A Plan (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) Held up, never near leaders, 9th of 13, 7l behind Schelm (8-11) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcap (6) pol.