Silvestre De Sousa won this last year for Alan Brown and the pair can team up successfully again with RED SHADOW, who is still a maiden after a dozen starts but more likely to be suited by testing conditions than First Bid. The latter comes out best on official figures but was beaten in a Leicester seller on soft ground last time and has little or no scope. Lady Nickandy's last dozen starts have been on the all-weather and she's another one beaten in a seller last time though she did manage to beat Italian Ice at Southwell in December. The remaining trio have shown nothing but cannot be dismissed in a poor contest.
First Bid 9-2 (9-5) Went right start, tracked leader, led over 3f out until ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Ficelle (8-9) at Leicester 6f 3yo sll (6) sft.
Italian Ice 16-1 (8-7) Chased leading pair, ridden halfway, lost 3rd inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 7th of 9, 14l behind Bella Ophelia (8-6) at Southwell 5f mdn auc stks (6) fbs in Jan.
Dream Walker (FR) 40-1 (8-11) With leaders, driven and lost place 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 12l behind Key Ambition (8-13) at Beverley 5f 2yo mdn aut (5) sft in Aug.
Red Shadow 9-2 (8-8) Tracked leader, ridden halfway, weakened final furlong, 5th of 12, 7l behind Uncle Timmy (8-3) at Nottingham 5f 2yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Nov.
Brunswick Vale (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Towards rear and reminders, ridden and hung left over 1f out, soon headway, one pace, 4th of 8, 12l behind Point At Issue (8-12) at Redcar 6f All clm stks (6) gf.
Lady Nickandy (IRE) 20-1 (8-6) Soon led, ridden and headed 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Gin Twist (8-13) at Wolverhampton 5f 3yo sell stks (6) pol in Mar.
Script 50-1 (8-1) Dwelt outpaced, last of 8, 12l behind Chateau Lola (8-5) at Southwell 5f 3yo hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
