chased leaders, led before 2 out, ridden last, held on near finish
towards rear, pushed along 5 out, weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off 3 out
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, chased winner run-in, kept on and held near finish
held up behind, effort 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, weakened before 2 out
led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on
in rear, headway before 5 out to chase leaders, every chase before 2 out, no extra after last
FIVE IN A ROW won an all-weather bumper at Kempton three weeks ago. He'd earlier finished runner-up over timber at Catterick and has more scope than most of these. Brian Ellison's charge finished well ahead of previous Wetherby winner Dream Flyer last time and gets the vote. Kaysersberg ran well off today's higher mark at Doncaster having scored at the same track before that but Allthekingshorses has failed to complete either side of finishing second at Wincanton. Abnaki won off a 3lb lower mark at Sedgefield in October and looks best of the rest.
Kaysersberg (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Close up, led before 3 out, headed before last, one pace, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Seventh Sign (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Allthekingshorses (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd (water) and lost place, rider lost irons until before 4th, driven 7th, lost touch when mistake next, pulled up after, in a race won by Mendip Express (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Abnaki (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, soon reminders, ridden before last, one pace, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Everaard (10-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Azure Fly (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, driven in 6th and no impression before 2 out, 6th of 12, 20l behind Bygones Sovereign (10-8) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Five In A Row (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along in 3rd 3f out, led approaching final 2f, ridden and pressed over 1f out, edged right briefly under pressure inside final furlong, stayed on to assert final 100 yards, won at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb beating Supreme Present (10-9) by 1l, 14 ran.
Dream Flyer (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, one paced from next, 4th of 5, 18l behind I Need Gold (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mubrook (USA) 25-1 (10-4) Led to 6th, soon lost place, tailed off from 3 out, last of 7, well behind New Year's Eve (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Invicta Lake (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened approaching final 2f, 9th of 15, 15l behind Presenting Arms (10-9) at Kempton 2m 2f n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Phare Isle (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) In touch in 4th, outpaced 5 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 2nd place run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Join The Clan (10-13) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
