always behind, pulled up 2 out
took keen hold in touch, lost place 4 out
held up in touch, hit 4 out, hard driven after 3 out, every chance next, weakened before last
led, joined from 6th, headed after 3 out, rallied and every chance last, stayed on gamely
midfield, headway 4 out, hard ridden to chase leaders next, kept on well under pressure
prominent, joined leader 6th, led after 3 out, headed before next, soon weakened
midfield, headway 3 out, weakened next
in touch, lost place after 5th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, never a factor
tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, effort approaching 2 out, weakened before last
pulled hard towards rear, headway 3 out, led approaching next, headed before last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, led before last, all out, held on gamely
midfield, headway 4 out, chased leaders when not fluent next, no extra from last
Vicenzo Mio travelled strongly for a long way in the Ladbroke at Ascot in December and is worth another try over a longer trip. Kublai won at Ludlow back in November but this is a much more competitive affair. Last month's Doncaster scorer Mccabe Creek is interesting, however, as that first win should have been a confidence-booster. Sir Ivan came up against an improver, who has won since, last time at Wincanton and also goes on the short-list but CLEAN SHEET is sure to have benefited from his run at Cheltenham, only his fourth start under Rules, and today's faster surface should be ideal - he gets the nod to recoup losses. Poker School was only beaten a neck at Huntingdon last month but is 6lb higher today, though still preferred to last year's winner Shammick Boy.
Kingscourt Native (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, struggling 8th, mistake and well beaten 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Close up, challenged 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 24 1/2l behind Baoulet Delaroque (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Clean Sheet (IRE) 11-4fav (10-8) Mid-division, tracked leaders on outside 2 out, switched right between last 2, effort when mistake last, soon ridden, weakened flat, 7th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Solstice Star (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Sir Ivan 5-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Baoulet Delaroque (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) 11-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along approaching 4 out, progress 2 out, driven hung right and weakened between last two, 12th of 21, 16 1/4l behind Jolly's Cracked It (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
King Kayf 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, pushed along after 5th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out, at Ascot 2m 6f (3) sft in Jan.
Blue Atlantic (USA) 8-1 (10-10) Chased leader until 5th, chased leaders, driven and weakened after 8th, tailed off and pulled up next, at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Hannibal The Great (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Tracked leader until before 5th and again from 7th, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear last, easily, won at Southwell 2m 4f (4) gd in Dec beating Little Jon (10-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Kublai (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 1st, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd from 2 out, mistake when challenging last, led flat, held on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Old Pride (11-12) by hd, 15 ran.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 4th after 3 out, soon pushed along and outpaced, no danger after, 6th of 7, 34 1/4l behind Never Says Never (10-7) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
McCabe Creek (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, ridden before and mistake last, rider lost an iron, kept on and edged right run-in, ridden out, won at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan beating Charlie Cook (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 18 ran.
Poker School (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along briefly before 6th, headway after next, not fluent 2 out, strong challenge from 2 out, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 14, nk behind Abricot De L'oasis (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Vif Argent (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden and weakened before 7th, pulled up before next, at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
