hampered soon after start, in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
slowly into stride, held up in last place, plenty to do 2f out, headway approaching final furlong, ridden and no impression inside final furlong
made all, ridden 2f out, stayed on strongly towards finish
raced wide and hung right throughout, towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, weakened entering final 2f
hampered soon after start, raced wide, dropped to rear, outpaced over 2f out, soon driven along, kept on, never dangerous
close up, challenged winner approaching final furlong, driven and one pace inside final furlong
raced wide in rear, ridden over 2f out, no impression
mid-division, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, never dangerous
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and no impression when hampered over 1f out, rallied inside final furlong, ran on to take 2nd towards finish
came across from wide draw soon after start, chased winner, ridden and hung right over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
in touch, ridden and hung left over 2f out, effort on inside over 1f out, weakened final furlong
in rear, ridden over 2f out, never nearer
Four of the 14 runners here come into this race with course and distance wins and a further three are course winners, not to mention the six distance winners, so this should prove to be a very competitive affair. For the selection though we side with ATLANITC STORY who should be closest challenged by Aeroplane and Al Muheer. The selection was beaten favourite here last time out when looking to repeat his Lingfield victory that came back in November of last year. Unfortunately it wasn't to be but he still ran well, looking like a big danger throughout. The gelding seems to run best when fresh though and the two months rest should serve him well. Aeroplane is currently in the middle of a decent run of form though is proving to be a fairly difficult ride of late. If the six-year-old can recapture his form of late 2008, when he won here then he can be a serious contender but still looks to be getting back to his best. Al Muheer has already chalked up one victory here this year and won last time out at Wolverhampton. The blinkers, which he also wore to success at Lingfield last time, appear to have had a dramatically positive effect, but another rise in the weights for this could leave him vulnerable in handicaps so for the winner we can look no further than Atlantic Story.
Atlantic Story (USA) 11-4fav (9-12) Prominent, chased leader and every chance over 1f out, no extra and one pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Red Somerset (8-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Jan.
Aeroplane 4-1co-fav (9-3) Slowly into stride, settled in rear, headway on outer well over 1f out, kept on to take 3rd final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Ceremonial Jade (9-3) at W'hampton 7f lst stk (1) pol.
Abbondanza (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Made all, quickened well over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol beating Flipando (9-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Jack Junior (USA) 5-1 (9-0) 8th of 11, 20l behind Clasp (8-5) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 2f hcp 0-105 std in Feb.
Capricorn Run (USA) 20-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened quickly, last of 13, 15l behind Flipando (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Al Muheer (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Raced keenly, pressed leader, ridden and edged left over 1f out, led just over 1f out, ran on well, won at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-95 (3) pol beating Tous Les Deux (8-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ebraam (USA) 7-2fav (9-4) In touch and keen, ridden 1f out, led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Feb beating Mutamared (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Giganticus (USA) 6-1 (9-4) Raced far side, tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 17, 6l behind Plum Pudding (9-6) at Newmarket 7f hcp 0-100 (2) gd in Oct.
Benllech 12-1 (8-5) 4th of 10, 4l behind Diana's Choice (9-2) at Nad Al Sheba 6f hcp 0-110 gf in Feb.
Red Somerset (USA) 9-1 (9-4) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, never nearer, 6th of 11, 5l behind Abbondanza (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Thebes 7-2jt-fav (8-6) Made all, led, shaken up over 1f out, wandered left and right under pressure, pressed well inside final furlong, just held on, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol beating Orpsie Boy (9-2) by a nk, 8 ran.
Flawed Genius 18-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden and effort over 1f out, not quicken entering final furlong, one pace, 6th of 13, 3l behind Flipando (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-105 (2) pol.
Southandwest (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Chased leader, under pressure halfway, weakened approaching 5f, 7th of 11, 5l behind Abbondanza (9-2) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
Orpsie Boy (IRE) 6-1 (9-2) Behind, ridden over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong to gain on winner, just failed, 2nd of 8, nk behind Thebes (8-6) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-100 (2) pol.
