in touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
chased leader for 2f, ridden and lost place over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong
held up behind, ridden over 2f out, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish
chased leaders until lost place over 2f out
held up, weakened final 2f
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, soon weakened
behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on, headed towards finish
Nero's Return can make fitness count over Aperitif, with Artistic Style and King Harson also likely to benefit from today's return to action. The Mark Johnston stable is already up and running with winners, so hopes are high that Nero's Return can add to his win at Pontefract where he got up in the final strides to catch Cimyla. That was an improvement on what he showed last season, so a winter gelding operation seems to have done the trick. He can finally make up for lost time now, having been campaigned against better company without success in the past and should make his fitness tell. Apritif has won two of his 12 starts and will at least like the ground, but is best watched today along with Artistic Style whose last outing was in the November Handicap. He shot up the weights last term after some useful efforts and it remains to be seen how he will cope. The visored King Harson has the assistance of Jamie Spencer but he too will need this, while Digital has had a run out at Kempton where he was a bit short of room, but the fact remains that he was costly to follow last term. So, for the winner we plump for Nero's Return.
Artistic Style 14-1 Mid-division, pushed along and switched right over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 6th of 24, 13l behind Carte Diamond at Doncaster 1m 4f hcp 0-110 (B1) sft in Nov.
Nero's Return (IRE) 12-1 Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Pontefract 1m hcp gs in Mar beating Cimyla by a hd, 12 ran.
Zilch 12-1 Held up and always towards rear, last of 9, 11l behind Iffraaj at Kempton 6f hcp gd in Mar.
Commando Scott (IRE) 12-1 Prominent, effort over 2f out, soon beaten, 13th of 15, 19l behind Merlin's Dancer at Doncaster 6f hcp gd in Mar.
Aperitif 2-1fav Slowly into stride, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, one pace under pressure final furlong, 4th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Cello at Bath 1m hcp (D2) sft in Oct.
Mystic Man (FR) 7-1 Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 2f out, weakening when headed over 1f out, 11th of 12, 23l behind Nero's Return at Pontefract 1m hcp gs in Mar.
King Harson 16-1 Led, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Go Padero at Catterick 7f hcp (D2) sft in Nov.
Cd Flyer (IRE) 14-1 Always behind stand side, 14th of 20, 19l behind Soyuz at Doncaster 7f app hcp (D2) gs in Nov.
Digital 8-1 In touch, ridden and not clear run over 2f out, soon outpaced, 7th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Flint River at Kempton 7f hcp gs.
Young Mr Grace (IRE) 16-1 Led and took keen hold, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, 18l behind Nero's Return at Pontefract 1m hcp gs in Mar.
