in touch, headway to challenge over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened and eased final furlong
led 1f, tracked winner, ridden to challenge from over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, driven and just held
tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced over 3f out, rallied approaching final furlong, kept on
in touch in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and stayed final on final furlong
slowly away, hung right throughout, raced wide, keen in rear, headway to lead over 7f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, eased over 2f out
led after 1f, headed over 7f out, led again over 3f out, pressed from over 2f out, driven and all out inside final furlong
Overrule has won four of his six starts on the Flat at Southwell but has yet to race on Polytrack. He'll go close if proving as effective on this surface but Stand Guard is facing tougher opposition today than he beat over C&D a fortnight ago. Ahlawy usually finds at least one too good and has a bit to find at the weights anyway while Beat The Ref and Sir Boss are hard to fancy. COUNTRY ROAD went close again at Lingfield last time having won a handicap over C&D before that and Mike Appleby's charge gets the vote to take advantage of today's favourable terms and come out best.
Sir Boss (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, ridden to press leaders over 1f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened entering final furlong, 8th of 10, 11l behind Art Scholar (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Overrule (USA) Evens2fav (9-5) Led 1f, tracked leader, led on bit 3f out, clear over 1f out, hard held, won at Southwell 1m 4f sell stks (6) fbs beating Dunaskin (9-0) by 6l, 2 ran.
Stand Guard 4-7fav (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f sell stks (6) pol beating Shy (8-9) by 5l, 6 ran.
Ahlawy (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Greyfriarschorista (10-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f sell stks (6) pol.
Beat The Ref 13-2 (10-5) Took keen hold, always in rear, tailed off, 7th of 9, 39l behind Big Society (10-11) at Hereford 2m 1f Conditional Nat Hunt Flat Race (4-6yo) (6) sft in Mar.
Country Road (IRE) Evensfav (9-3) Set steady pace, ridden and joined from 2f out, headed post, 2nd of 5, hd behind Daniel Thomas (9-1) at Lingfield 1m 4f clm stks (6) pol in Mar.