Verdict

POLITBUREAU was gaining his first victory when beating Coax by a head at Newcastle and can complete the double from just 3lb higher under Serena Brotherton. The runner-up could give the form a boost in the earlier division. Graceful Act had shown virtually nothing until a better run in a Redcar maiden but looks too high in the weights as a result. The ex-Irish Monthly Medal isn't much better than a plater so the main threat may come from Muwalla, a winner over hurdles at the end of last month and on the same mark as when scoring over this trip at Leicester last summer.

Formwatch

Shaloo Diamond 16-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear and keen, never dangerous, 10th of 11, 29l behind Amazing Blue Sky (9-2) at Beverley 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in May.

Polurrian (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Mid-division, under pressure over 3f out, soon lost place, 13th of 14, 22l behind Tartan Gigha (9-5) at Carlisle 1m 3f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.

Graceful Act 22-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden to press winner from over 1f out, soon every chance, kept on inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Mixora (8-9) at Redcar 1m 2f mdn auc stks (5) gf.

Muwalla 20-1 (9-4) Held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, one pace inside final furlong, 11th of 15, 9l behind Law To Himself (9-6) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Nov.

Damascus Symphony 4-1 (9-0) Dwelt, in rear and in touch, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 5, 28l behind La Bacouetteuse (9-3) at Hamilton 1m 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.

Monthly Medal 28-1 (8-7) Held up in rear, headway 4f out, led going well over 2f out, headed over 1f out, impeded inside final furlong, one pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Le Chat D'or (9-4) at Newcastle 1m hcp 0-70 (5) sft.

Politbureau 5-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden over 1f out, led towards finish, just held on, won at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gd beating Coax (9-7) by hd, 11 ran.

Donna Elvira 8-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 9l behind Idealism (8-7) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-60 (6) gd.

Mystified (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) In touch, lost place over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 12, 19l behind Talk Of Saafend (9-4) at Musselburgh 1m 4f ladies hcp 0-70 (5) gs.

Ritsi 25-1 (8-11) Held up, ridden 5f out, lost touch over 3f out, soon well behind, tailed off, last of 7, well behind The Absent Mare (8-10) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Oct.

Front Rank (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Held up in touch, lost place over 6f out, soon beaten, 9th of 10, 38l behind Oddsmaker (9-6) at Musselburgh 1m 6f hcp 0-60 (6) gs in Apr '11.

Imperial Royale (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Tracked leader until ridden and weakened 3f out, 11th of 12, 20l behind Champain Sands (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app banded (85) pol in Mar '05.