always towards rear
close up, ridden over 1f out, faded inside final furlong
slowly into stride, behind, pushed along over 2f out, headway in 3rd over 1f out, kept on
towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
held up in rear and keen, effort over 1f out, never dangerous
soon chased leader, led inside final furlong, held on well
mid-division, soon chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
Simon Walker and Serena Brotherton have shared four of the last five of these between them. The former is on board CASTLEREA TESS, a regular around here who has never won on the all-weather but ran easily her best race when just caught by Athassel earlier this month. A repeat would see her go one better but Autumn Tonic has only won once in 20 all-weather starts and that was almost two year ago. Menelik has won four times but not on Tapeta and he's better over an extra furlong, as is Misu Pete, but Very First Blade is much better known as a 5f specialist and has gone up 3lb for finishing second last time.
Intense Starlet (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Mid-division, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 13, 11 1/2l behind First Excel (9-2) at Newcastle 6f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Very First Blade 8-1 (9-4) Held up, headway over 1f out, soon chased winner, ran on, 2nd of 14, nk behind Pancake Day (9-5) at Southwell 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Menelik (IRE) 11-4fav (9-5) Took keen hold, led early, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost place towards finish, 6th of 11, 2 3/4l behind Outlaw Torn (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Autumn Tonic (IRE) 7-2fav (9-10) In touch, headway from 2f out, soon chased clear winner, ridden and ran on to press winner close home, 2nd of 13, nk behind Wimboldsley (9-5) at Southwell 6f hcp (7) pol in Jan.
Misu Pete 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, lost place over 3f out, no impression after, 7th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Dr Red Eye (8-11) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Swendab (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Raced wide in touch, ridden and hung left over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Topsoil (9-5) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Pillar 14-1 (8-13) Mid-division on outer, ran freely, ridden under 2f out and soon no extra, 11th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Arbourfield (9-6) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Jan.
Castlerea Tess 33-1 (9-1) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed final strides, 2nd of 12, nk behind Athassel (9-6) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp (6) pol in Jan.
Portrush Storm 25-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 6, 9 1/2l behind Diminutive (8-9) at Ffos Las 5f hcp (6) sft in Sep.